Rochester Rock Art Panel
Encyclopedia
The Rochester Rock Art Panel consists of a large number of petroglyphs of various ages. Some are prehistoric rock art
, probably of Fremont culture
origin. Others are probably modern, depicting horses, for example. And some are arguably of very recent origin, most likely the work of white explorers, settlers, and/or tourists. There is a great deal of graffiti
near the main panel that is obviously of fairly recent origin. The majority of the panel is covered with a dark desert varnish
which contrasts nicely with the light sandstone that is exposed when the petroglyphs are pecked into the surface. There are several sections of very light stone in the center of the panel where it appears some of original stone was removed, probably by collectors who were after the figures inscribed there.
The panel is located 3 miles east of Emery, Utah
but is accessed via a graded road coming from a turnoff to the north, near the town of Moore
. To get to the panel drive to the turnoff between mile markers 16 and 17 on highway 10 between the towns of Emery and Ferron. Take the paved road heading east to Moore for about half a mile. Turn south onto a well-graded road and drive for about 4 miles, passing a radio tower on the way. From the parking lot an obvious hiking trail of about a half mile leads along the side of a small canyon to the panel.
Rock art
Rock art is a term used in archaeology for any human-made markings made on natural stone. They can be divided into:*Petroglyphs - carvings into stone surfaces*Pictographs - rock and cave paintings...
, probably of Fremont culture
Fremont culture
The Fremont culture or Fremont people is a pre-Columbian archaeological culture which received its name from the Fremont River in the U.S. state of Utah where the first Fremont sites were discovered. The Fremont River itself is named for John Charles Frémont, an American explorer. It inhabited...
origin. Others are probably modern, depicting horses, for example. And some are arguably of very recent origin, most likely the work of white explorers, settlers, and/or tourists. There is a great deal of graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
near the main panel that is obviously of fairly recent origin. The majority of the panel is covered with a dark desert varnish
Desert varnish
Desert varnish, or rock varnish is a orange-yellow to black coating found on exposed rock surfaces in arid environments. Desert varnish is usually around one micron thick and present nanometre-scale layering...
which contrasts nicely with the light sandstone that is exposed when the petroglyphs are pecked into the surface. There are several sections of very light stone in the center of the panel where it appears some of original stone was removed, probably by collectors who were after the figures inscribed there.
The panel is located 3 miles east of Emery, Utah
Emery, Utah
Emery is a town in Emery County, Utah, United States. The population was 308 at the 2000 census.-Prehistoric:Emery sits at the base of the mountains that contain the North Horn Formation. Named after North Horn Mountain, near Castle Dale, Utah this formation in Emery County contain numerous...
but is accessed via a graded road coming from a turnoff to the north, near the town of Moore
Moore, Utah
Moore is an unincorporated community in west central Emery County, Utah, United States, at the edge of the San Rafael Swell. Moore is a community or populated place located in Emery County at latitude 38.967 and longitude -111.154. The elevation is 6,247 feet. Moore appears on the Emery East U.S....
. To get to the panel drive to the turnoff between mile markers 16 and 17 on highway 10 between the towns of Emery and Ferron. Take the paved road heading east to Moore for about half a mile. Turn south onto a well-graded road and drive for about 4 miles, passing a radio tower on the way. From the parking lot an obvious hiking trail of about a half mile leads along the side of a small canyon to the panel.