A Legacy on Stone in the Landscape of the Spirits

Indian tribes like the Fremont, Anasazi, and Paiute called Southern Utah home for centuries. The contrasting environment of the "Green Valley" drew these people to traditional camping spots along the Santa Clara River where they found shelter, water, and a great abundance of plant life and game. The valley held special significance for another reason. The native people believed that the land's features were sacred and consecrated with supernatural powers. In this mystic valley, the cliffs and rock formations were the home of powerful spirits with the ability to help people who came to pray to their Gods for guidance and inspiration.

Archaeological evidence suggests that rock surfaces transformed into a "sketch pad for these primordial artists" preserved a remarkable biographical and ceremonial record of human prehistory. Biographical rock art depicts events which actually happened or which may have been witnessed, while ceremonial rock art describes images resulting from an individual's dreams, vision quests, and prayers. Visually, we glean an awe-inspiring perspective of the mythology, tradition, and communication that connected human hands with their spiritual world.

What brings people to the area's desert environment searching for rock art? These symbols bind us to the region's canyons and cliffs and transport us back in time to a way of life now difficult to conceive. Through the artful styles of native peoples, these panels of pecked images give us a tantalizing glimpse into their reverent thoughts and humbling beliefs.

Many Native Americans view rock art as a tie to their heritage. Non-native people are often drawn to rock art sites because they find inspiration in the mix of intriguing imagery and natural beauty. No matter what culture you come from, rock art reminds us of a simpler way...and a past shared by all of our ancestors in one form or another.

The attraction to Southwest rock art holds a "renaissance of wonder." It renews our hearts and souls with the eternal poetry of art. And it brings with it a perennial sense that life is miracle and magic - no matter when or how we lived. In the dry desert environment of the "Black Ridge," with its profusion of rock surfaces and relics of the past, an incomparable cultural heritage is sustained.

Sacred images, in a sacred space, befall us only steps away from the Whisper Ridge community. Discover a bounty of appreciation. Express your respect. Seek out other's heritage. And walk in beauty and love. Celebrate the richness of this legacy of stone that we're so lucky to inherit!