On a cold Thanksgiving morning I took my motorcycle for a ride, hoping to find a little snow in the Book Cliffs to ride in. While riding randomly along a dirt road near Deadman Creek I saw a large boulder that I remembered seeing about 15 years ago while driving my ’79 Ford in the snow.
’79 Ford near Deadman Creek
This time, however, I took notice of the dark patina on the boulder and decided to stop and look for rock art. It had seemed very unlikely that I’d find anything, but there were, in fact, a few faint petroglyphs there! I didn’t have my camera so I took a photo with my phone and then headed home.
Two bighorn sheep petroglyphs
I returned on Black Friday with Mark and we looked at the rock art, then explored the area on foot hoping to find more rock art or possibly some pit houses along the wash. We also did some poking around the base of the Book Cliffs near the mouth of Deadman Canyon. We didn’t see much of interest other than the one boulder with petroglyphs, which aren’t especially unique other than their proximity to home in an area otherwise devoid of rock art.
Double helix
Faint bighorn petroglyph
John Martin inscription
Book Cliffs east of Deadman Canyon
Base of the Book Cliffs west of Deadman Canyon
Book Cliffs west of Deadman Canyon
Photo Gallery: Deadman Creek Petroglyphs
good clear photos !
John Martin also left his name on a smaller boulder at Smith Pond off of Chimney Rock Road in the Swell.
Cool, thanks. I’ll search for it the next time I’m in that area. Did he carve the date or year as well?
I think as you saw (in your other update) that JM left no date. :/