HUMAN PICTOGRAPHS IN UTAH
  THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ROCK ART THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DISMISS AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE WORK OF ANCIENT ARTISTS. FRAN BARNES, A RECOGNIZED AUTHORITY ON ROCK ART OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH-WEST, WRITES, 'IN THE SAN RAFAEL SWELL, THERE IS A PICTOGRAPH THAT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE A PTEROSAUR, A CRETACEOUS FLYING REPTILE.' WHILE SOME SAY IT MAY BE A BIRD, THE PRESENCE OF A PROMINENT HEAD CREAST AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A LONG TAIL SUGGESTS OTHERWISE. IT IS INTRIGUING TO NOTE THAT NOT FAR AWAY FROM THIS SITE, THE UNIVERSITY OF OHIO QUARRIED A FOSSIL PTEROSAUR. THERE IS ANOTHER INTERESTING CONECTION WITH ANCIENT INDIANS AND FLYING REPTILES. THE SIOUX INDIANS HAVE LONG FEATURED THE 'THUNDER BIRD' IN THEIR MYTHOLOGY, AND ALWAYS DRAW IT AS UNMISTAKABLY SIMILAR TO THE PTEROSAUR PTERANODON. THERE ARE ALSO GIANT HUMAN PICTOGRAPHS ON THE CANYON WALL TO THE LEFT OF THE PTEROSAUR PICTOGRAPH. Return to Contents |