Newspaper Rock: An Ancient Story
Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument is located in southern Utah along State Route 211 south of Moab on the way into the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. The state first protected it in 1961. It was later added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The petroglyph panel is one of the largest and best preserved in the American West. Newspaper Rock has more than 650 petroglyphs. It’s estimated that the first carvings appeared around 2,000 years ago. As time passed, people from the Archaic, Anasazi, Fremont, Navajo, Anglo, and Pueblo cultures left their mark on Newspaper Rock.
In Navajo, the rock is called “Tse’ Hone”, meaning a rock that tells a story. Unfortunately, whether the figures tell a story or are simply doodling hunting advice or ancient graffiti is unknown. This is largely up to personal interpretation. I believe it does tell a story; however, I haven’t the slightest clue what that story is.
Visiting the Historic Site
I visited Newspaper Rock on a late fall afternoon. The site is slightly more than 6,000 feet above sea level, so there was a little nip in the air, jacket weather for sure. I was on my way into the Needles District of Canyonlands for a weekend camping trip when I saw a BLM sign on the right-hand side of the road. I pulled in to check it out. The parking lot had room for twenty or so cars and a couple of RV’s. There were a few other cars in the parking lot.
Newspaper Rock is only about 50 feet from the parking lot. I walked over to take a gander, staying back while families posed for pictures in front of the 200-foot rock art panel. There is a mid-torso high metal fence surrounding it, but nothing else. I was surprised it was not encased in glass. I was even more surprised by how remarkably well it was preserved. Of course, a few jerks vandalized it here and there, but it was in impeccable condition for the most part.
I sat on a large rock bench and waited for the others to leave. I wanted to enjoy the panel quietly by myself. After about 10 minutes, everyone left, and the parking lot emptied. It was just me. I walked close to the fence and tried to interpret what I could. I am not a petroglyph expert by any means, but I have done some reading and visited other sites around the West.
Reading Newspaper Rock
I am not saying with certainty that I am 100 percent correct, but this is my interpretation of parts of Newspaper Rock.
- Bison
- Some kind of wheel. Maybe a medicine wheel?
- This appears to be some sort of stretched hide
- This is a ram bighorn with three ewes
- Perhaps a beaver hide
- A shaman or a deity
- Jerk Graffiti
- Human or a bear footprint
- Hunter on a horse shooting a deer with giant antlers
- Bear paw
- Horse and rider hunting a bighorn
- Bird
- Big bear print
You could spend hours analyzing the petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock. Me, I was there for about half an hour. If you are in the area hitting Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, make sure to budget in time for a stop at Newspaper Rock. You will not regret it.
