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Outsight Stock Photo Sampler
Petroglyph at Grimes Point archeological site, Churchill Co., Nevada
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Petroglyphs & Pictographs
(American Southwest)

Photographs and Text Copyright ©1990-2003
Thomas Hallstein / Outsight Photography
All Rights Reserved

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Person ponders pictographs, Buckhorn Wash, San Rafael Swell, UT


When speaking about Native American rock art, people often use the words petroglyph and pictograph interchangeably but they really are two different things. Petroglyphs are etched, carved or gouged into the rock whereas pictographs are simply painted onto the rock surface.

Person ponders pictographs, San Rafael Swell, UT
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Regardless of the technique used to make them, these markings largely remain a mystery. Why were they made? What do they mean? These are the questions that run through ones mind when standing in the spot their creator once stood thousands of years before.

Here's a few images from the Outsight photo stock:


Pictograph, Buckhorn Wash archeological site, San Rafael Swell, UT
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Petroglyphs, Zion National Park, UT
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left to right:
- 2,000 yr old pictograph. Buckhorn Wash Rock Art Site. San Rafael Swell. Emery Co., UT
- Anasazi petroglyphs in one of Zion's many canyons. Zion National Park. Washington Co., UT

Petroglyphs, Valley of Fire State Park, NV
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Petroglyphs, Death Valley National Park, CA
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left to right:
- Petroglyph. Valley of Fire State Park, Clark Co., NV
- Animal petroglyphs. Panamint Mountains. Death Valley National Park, Inyo Co., CA

Ancient 'Pit and Groove' Great Basin petroglyphs, NV
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Pictographs, Buckhorn Wash, San Rafael Swell, UT
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left to right:
- Very old (5,000+ years) primitive 'pit and groove' Great Basin petroglyphs. Churchill Co., NV
- Pictographs. Buckhorn Wash Rock Art Site. San Rafael Swell. Emery Co., UT

Petroglyphs on desert varnish covered red rock. Valley of Fire State Park, NV
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Petroglyphs, Zion National Park, UT
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left to right:
- Many small petroglyphs on desert varnish coverd red rock. Valley of Fire State Park, Clark Co., NV
- Anasazi petroglyphs. Zion National Park. Washington Co., UT

Petroglyphs, Capitol Reef National Park, UT
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Petroglyphs, Newspaper Rock State Park, UT
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left to right:
- Petroglyphs. Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne Co., UT
- Multi-cultural collection of petroglyphs. Newspaper Rock State Park. San Juan Co., UT

All photos copyright © 1990-2003 Thomas Hallstein - All Rights Reserved
Photos may not be used for any purpose without prior written permission
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