Utah BLM seeks public help in petroglyph panel vandalism case

Six climbing bolts were found drilled into historic Pregnant Sheep panel near Vernal, officials are now asking the public for help.

VERNAL, Utah — Federal authorities have discovered six unauthorized climbing bolts installed on a protected petroglyph panel in eastern Utah that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to the Utah Bureau of Land Management (Utah BLM).

The damage to the Pregnant Sheep Petroglyph Panel was first discovered on Nov. 8 when a BLM archaeologist and representatives from the Utah State Historic Preservation Office’s Cultural Site Stewardship Program visited the site to establish monitoring protocols, the agency said.

Three bolts were found on the rock face directly below the ancient art panel, with three additional bolts installed on a lower ledge. Only one bolt includes an attached ring, officials reported.

The installation constitutes an unauthorized alteration of a registered archaeological site protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979. The site’s designated boundary encompasses the entire rock face containing the panel.

Utah BLM law enforcement and archaeologists conducted a follow-up investigation on Nov. 21, documenting the damage from both the base and top of the cliff.

The vandalism comes just months after the Utah State Legislature designated Native American rock art as official state works of art in 2023.

The Utah BLM’s Vernal Field Office is working with the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office on the investigation and are asking that anyone with information about the unauthorized installation to contact Utah BLM law enforcement at (801) 539-4099.

“These pieces of history are incredibly important to preserve and contemplate,” the Utah BLM said in a statement. “We encourage and support the safe and respectful enjoyment of all the different landscapes, and ask all users to protect these features for future generations to enjoy.”