Buckhorn Draw Pictograph Panel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Buckhorn Draw Pictograph Panel
Buckhorn Draw Pictograph Panel Location in the United States
Location	Emery County, Utah, USA
Nearest city	Castle Dale
Governing body	Bureau of Land Management

The Buckhorn Draw Pictograph Panel is an amazing example of rock art found in central Utah. It's located in a place called Buckhorn Draw, which is part of the San Rafael Swell. This special site is about four miles north of the San Rafael campground and bridge.

This panel shows ancient drawings made by people who lived here long ago. It's like a giant outdoor art gallery from the past!

Ancient Art at Buckhorn Draw

The Buckhorn Draw Pictograph Panel is mostly known for its unique Barrier Canyon Style art. This style is very old and features tall, ghost-like figures. These figures often have no arms or legs and sometimes look like they are floating. They are usually painted in red or brown colors.

What are Pictographs?

Rock art comes in two main types:

• Pictographs are pictures painted onto rock surfaces. The artists used natural pigments, like minerals mixed with water or animal fat, to create their colors.
• Petroglyphs are images carved or etched into the rock. Artists would chip away at the dark outer layer of the rock to show the lighter rock underneath.

At Buckhorn Draw, you can see both types, but pictographs are the main feature.

Different Art Styles

While most of the art here is in the ancient Barrier Canyon Style, you can also spot some later petroglyphs from the Fremont culture. The Fremont people lived in this area much later than the Barrier Canyon artists. Sometimes, the Fremont artists even drew their figures right on top of the older Barrier Canyon paintings. This shows how different groups used the same special places over many centuries.

A Trail Through Time

Buckhorn Draw was once part of the Old Spanish Trail. This was an important route used by traders and travelers in the 1800s. Because so many people passed through this area, the ancient rock art panel faced a big problem: graffiti. Over the years, many people carved or wrote their names on the precious ancient drawings.

Protecting the Art

Luckily, people realized how important this historical site was. In 1996, the State of Utah and Emery County worked together to restore the panel. They carefully cleaned and repaired the damage caused by graffiti. This restoration was part of Utah's 100th birthday celebration as a state. Thanks to their efforts, we can still enjoy and learn from this amazing ancient art today. It's a reminder of the people who lived in Utah long, long ago.

Images for kids

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  Panorama of the Buckhorn Draw Pictograph Panel.

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  A closer look at some of the ancient figures.

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  Detail of the unique Barrier Canyon Style art.

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  Another detailed view of the pictographs.

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  Notice the tall, thin figures typical of this style.

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  More details showing the ancient artwork.

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  A wider view of a section of the panel.

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  Close-up of the rock surface and paintings.

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  Detail of a Fremont culture petroglyph carved into the rock.

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  A detailed section of the pictographs.

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  Another close-up showing the ancient art.