Sometime before 6000 B.C., Sego Canyon’s walls were empty and plain. And sometime after 100 B.C., the Archaic peoples completed the Sego Panels. The Barrier Canyon Style artwork remains with us today, but it has challenges to its very existence.
The Archaic people were nomadic by nature and eschewed permanent structures. As such, they left us with few clues to learn about them. Their rock art, however, is quite the exception. Sego Canyon contains several significant panels for us to ponder today.
Large, life-size anthropomorphic figures exemplify Barrier Canyon Style. They frequently have hollow or missing eyes and seldom contain legs. The overall appearance is haunting and mysterious, reminding me of a spiritual presence.
Sadly, this panel is easy to reach and the subject of frequent vandalism. It is right off the interstate in Utah, and access is easy. People have etched their names, defaced the panel, shot at it, and desecrated it in many ways. Hopefully, it will withstand our efforts to deface the past, and we can study it to understand its message. But, with no protection, it will continue to degrade.
Other panels are nearby. For example, this petroglyph panel is outstanding but, alas, is also marred.
And this panel, to me, is particularly interesting because it is so low to the ground. It is located on private property, so is not approachable, but I was able to easily photograph it.
All we can do is enjoy Sego Canyon for what it is today. It is an important site, but one that will likely to continue to degrade.