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<\/a>After scrambling up into a boulder pile because I thought a low overhang looked promising, I find this really neat grinding slick station tucked between two boulders.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>A close look at one of the slicks, so you can see how smoothed the rock face is. There used to be a grinding stone here, I’ve heard, but that stone appears to be missing now. If you stumble on these sites, take care not to disturb them. Others would like to enjoy the site as you found it. After all, you only get to see it in its present state because earlier visitors were mindful and respectful of the site. Let’s keep the chain going!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Just a ways past the grinding station, further into the rock pile, we find a really nice overhang with pictographs. Wow!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>If you looked closely at the lower left of the previous picture, you may have noticed a very small alcove. Here’s a closer look. Some pigment in there, maybe? Sure looks like it!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Definitely pigment, but the design is weathered. Looks like both red and white pigment was featured.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Let’s look at the main shelter next. There are quite a few designs in here, though some seem to be affected by exfoliation. From the red dots on the right to the design barely peeking out in the upper left corner, there is plenty to see here.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>With DStretch you can get a better overview of what we’ll be looking at next.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Over on the right, these evenly spaced dots and other elements are most prominent. Take a second to look closely at this image – there is more to it than meets the eye.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>In particular, than burst element! Notice anything odd about it?<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>First, let’s lean in really close with a natural color look. The element is quite faded.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>With DStretch, we can see what is unusual about this element. There appears to be a second burst nestled within the larger one. I’ve seen some elements like this at a site in the Sierra foothills, but I haven’t seen any in this area before I visited this site.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>This element is the best preserved at the site, and roughly in the center of the overhang, too. I think it may be a partial element – it looks like the area around it was destroyed by exfoliation.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>High above this element, on the lip of the overhang, I notice some pigment. Nothing very distinct, but I still take a picture for future reference.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Even with DStretch nothing really jumps out. Sometimes an element is very weathered, or damaged, or it might even be natural pigmentation! Hard to tell. My outtakes are full of pictures of this sort. Thank goodness for modern DSLR cameras. I can’t imagine the heartbreak of developing film just to discover there was nothing much to see in the first place.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Before moving on to the rest of the shelter, let’s have one more look at those dots. Unusual design for this part of the desert.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Now for a look at the remaining elements. The net-like or diamond-shaped design up top is made with a maroon-ish pigment. I’ve seen this pigment here and there in Joshua Tree National Park, and I’ve also seen animal droppings with that coloring. It must be from some fruit or berry that grows in the area, but I’m not sure which. Also visible in this picture are some red and white elements, bottom left.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>DStretch helps a lot as far as spotting the white pigment goes. I think those are some rake motifs. Unusual to see them in white.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>A real close look at those elements.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>The net-like design is much better defined than the red dots around the white rakes. These diamond-motif pictographs are often said to have some association with puberty rites. In this case it is worth noting that the diamond shape seems to extend downwards, almost forming a net.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>This net-like design is painted in a darker, more maroon-colored pigment, and also seems a bit more precise than the other elements, which seem to have fuzzier edges. In addition, it is also tucked in up under the overhang, away from the other elements. I wonder if it was painted at a different time?<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Here’s an image taken while looking up at the ceiling of the overhang. It shows how close to the edge the net-like design is.<\/p><\/div>\n