If you have any information about the “vandalism” of a Utah petroglyph this fall — federal authorities want to know about it. Investigators are asking for tips about the illegal installation of climbing bolts on the historic Pregnant Sheep Petroglyph Panel, an archaeological site located on Highway 40 near the Utah-Colorado border.
The damage, discovered on Nov. 10, has raised concerns about the preservation of the state’s prehistoric rock art, which serves as a record of indigenous cultures. In a Dec. 26 Facebook post, the Bureau of Land Management asked anyone with information to come forward.
A photo included in the post shows the location of climbing bolts directly beneath the petroglyph, which depicts two figures, including a pregnant sheep. The bolts appear to be a typical climbing anchor used to safely descend or to continue up a large rock face.
Now the BLM is seeking public assistance in identifying those responsible. The petroglyph panel is protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, which imposes steep penalties for damaging sites of cultural and historical importance.
Steep Penalties for Defacing Ancient Art
First-time offenders could face fines of up to $10,000 and imprisonment of up to 1 year. For archaeological resources valued at more than $500, penalties for damage to the ancient art can double. That means up to $20,000 in fines and possible imprisonment of up to 2 years.
It’s still unclear if the bolts were drilled by rock climbers — or just by someone who wanted an up-close look at the petroglyphs, as some climbers argued in a Mountain Project discussion.
But this isn’t the first time that climbers have been caught in the crosshairs for installing bolts near Indigenous history. In 2021, officials found climbing bolts on ancient rock art near Moab, in eastern Utah. The bolts were removed, but archaeologists said the 2,000-year-old petroglyph was permanently damaged.
The news also comes on the heels of a year-long debate over whether to ban all climbing bolts from wilderness areas. After planning a complete ban on climbing gear from federally protected land, the National Park Service decided against the prohibition last week.
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