What Do These Pictographs of Limbless Beings Mean?

#shorts #petroglyphs #rockart #canyonlands #canyonlandsnationalpark #thetrekplanner

I hope you enjoyed this short tour through Horseshoe Canyon in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. This incredible pictograph 'gallery' is located at the end of a long hike and contains paintings (pictographs) of limbless anthropomorphs (human-like figures) that are about 4000 years old!

We have a MUCH longer video on Horseshoe Canyon and a detailed Trek Guide, so check that out for more information and pictures:

[cicipine]

What comes to my mind is the pictures depict burial wraps. They could be memorializing the dead in blanket wraps...

[fzenewz]

I love canyonlands. Those same creatures are depicted in sego canyon up the road.

[junked]

So enigmatic. That tribe's artist never could have imagined how many people are still appreciating his work so many years later.

[TrueDrue]

Spirits....spirits were very important to Native culture across America. That's probably what they represent. Maybe ancestors, maybe spirits of other things.

[dhope]

Blankets didn't have sleeves. Blankets did have various beautiful designs which we see here. As for the strange face, it could simply be a carved face mask which were so often used in dance & ceremonies. Anyway, just my thoughts.

[islaannisainsworth]

I have hiked the canyon to see them. The whole experience was something else. Glad it's hard to get too, as not protected on any level. That's a scary thought!!! Loosing them is a unfathomable to me.

[huddybozak]

That's a terrestrial suit that an advanced race of squid or octopus wears

[Soli_Deo_Gloria_.]

Ah yes, just up Canyon is Blue John, the canyon Aron Ralston was trapped by a boulder and had to cut his arm off. The only reason he made it out alive is because of this petroglyph panel that tourists were there to see, and they assisted him.

[aaronjensen]

you need to check out nine mile canyon and range creak canyon in carbon county. lots of ruins grainys and second to non petroglyphs. you really should visit those two places

[candyredman]

Oh my gosh wow...thats so amazing...I want to see these.

[nancywallat]

This is one of my favorite pictograph sites. The panels are on both sides of the Canyon. Although the Great Gallery is the main attraction, there are stunning panels on the other side of the canyon, some with shamen holding snakes similar to modern native snake dances.

[duncanmacgregor]

Definitely past spirits of tribal members… some of the element most probably symbolize age… and rank

[erikpalmer]

If you see any names up high, that's just locals from 50+ years ago standing on their horse. My family has a ranch on 191 and my grandfather was born in Moab. I remember asking how they got their names up so high.

[bigfoot]

That's a tell of a Bigfooter family that ues to live there many great moons ago.

[cgonzo]

Blk dragon and this site are on my to do list ... Great excuse to get out of the winter inversion.

[dconnell]

Ancient shamen saw the shadows of tribal members on the wall while assembled around camp fires. Their images inspired later artists to draw similar images with the added blanket art work.

[nancyselzer]

before I saw any of the comments below, I too, thought that the beings were just wearing blankets.

[janiceconstante]

I loved Canyonlands. Much better than Arches I thought.

[thirdworldassassin]

i seen them on psychadelics, they came to me, 7 feet tall perfectly round heads no arms or legs and were solid black with white eyes that were flat on the bottom, they were the ancestor spirits of our spirits

[Nikoricci]

Shamanic visions after taking hallucinogenic plant medicine, most likely.