Officials investigating incidents involving vandals carving messages into prehistoric rock art in Utah
Vandals carved their names into or near prehistoric petroglyph panels at two public-land sites in Utah.
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THE TAKEAWAY
- Prehistoric petroglyph panels near Moab were vandalized in two separate incidents.
- Individuals carved their names into or near the protected rock art along Highway 279 and near Hell’s Revenge.
- The Bureau of Land Management is seeking information, and violators could face fines, imprisonment and exclusion from public lands.
MOAB, Utah – These vandals quite literally left their mark on history.
Prehistoric petroglyph panels near Moab, Utah, were defaced by vandals who carved their names near the ancient rock art, prompting authorities to ask the public for help identifying those responsible.
The Utah Bureau of Land Management is investigating two separate incidents of vandalism on public lands near Moab, the tourist hotspot home to Arches National Park. One incident occurred along Highway 279, while the other happened near the popular Hell’s Revenge trail.
Vandals carved their names into or near the petroglyph panels, a disturbance of archaeological resources and a federal offense under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act.
(Utah Bureau of Land Management)
In both cases, individuals carved names into or near the prehistoric panels, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
Reports date the affected petroglyph panels to approximately 400 to 1300 A.D.
The brueau described the petroglyph panels as irreplaceable cultural resources protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act.
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The agency warned that once damaged, the panels cannot be restored to their original condition and urged visitors to help protect the history and cultural heritage of public lands.
"Vandalism or unauthorized disturbance of archaeological resources is a serious federal offense and can result in significant fines, imprisonment, and/or exclusion from public lands," the Utah BLM wrote in a social media post.
The vandalism occurred at two separate prehistoric rock art sites on public lands near Moab, Utah — one along Highway 279 and another near Hell’s Revenge.
(Utah BLM)
Under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, knowingly damaging or defacing archaeological resources can carry criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
Anyone with information that could help identify those responsible is asked to contact Moab Bureau of Land Management Law Enforcement at 435-259-2131.
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"Please help us protect the history and cultural heritage of our public lands," the Utah Bureau of Land Management wrote.