Native American Rock Art

The Petroglyph and Pictograph photographs presented on this website were taken in the Dinosaur National Monument of Colorado and Utah as well as the Canyon Pintado south of Rangley Colorado.

A pictograph is a painted design using various pigments available in the area and a Petroglyh is a carven image in the stone. The dates of these are estimated to be from 1000 AD to the 1400s. Most of these creations are considered to be from the Freemont people while a few were likely created by the Ute tribe. There is evidence the Freemont people lived in this area of Utah and Colorado from 200AD to 1300AD. The designs are typically depictions of birds, animals, people and other features of the world. Others may represent things fanciful or mystical.

The style of Freemont rock art varies throughout the region. But the "classic vernal style" predominates. It is characterized by well executed anthropmorphous (human-like figures), zoomorphs (animal like figures), and abstract designs. The designs maybe have served some ceremonial or religious purpose, been related to hunting activities, identified clans, or simply have been artistic expression.