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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah archeologists estimate that nearly one-third of over 100,000 total archaeological sites in Utah — sites that date as far back as at least 13,000 years ago — have been damaged in some form or fashion over the past few decades.
Perhaps none of the more recent incidents caught as much attention as "Birthing Rock" near Moab, which was heavily damaged in April 2021 by vandals who carved names and profane language onto three of four panels of the rock that contains art dating back to 500 A.D. That happened just weeks after a climber inadvertently damaged another 1,000-year-old petroglyph in the area.
State archeologists also orchestrated a cleanup of graffiti near rock imagery in Eagle Mountain over the summer, to name another recent example. In most instances, they say these prehistoric resources cannot be repaired or replaced.
History from Native American pueblos and petroglyphs to pioneer cabins to Chinese railroad worker camps is often at risk of damage. And as the temperatures warm up and many people plan to return to Utah's outdoor places where prehistoric artifacts can be found, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is joining archaeologists in an effort to reduce what they call "archaeological vandalism."
The governor released a message Friday, urging people who recreate to be careful in Utah's outdoors — through the "Pledge to Protect the Past" initiative led by the Utah Division of State History and State Historic Preservation Office.
The message this week comes after last year broke all sorts of outdoor records; the state's national and state parks, combined, drew in about 24 million visitors alone, more than 5.5 million visitors more than in 2020. That number doesn't even include all the national monuments and other public lands where archaeological sites can be found.
"Archeological sites, these physical places where we can go to visit the past, are much more fragile than they look. And with more people visiting Utah's great outdoors than ever before, even actions that feel like a light touch can damage or even destroy a site forever," Cox said, in a video public service announcement.
"We visit these sites every day to get closer to our own past and learn something new about someone else's heritage. We open up our lands and our hearts to welcome visitors and show them these places as well," he continued. "We do this out of respect for the past and what it can teach us."
Remaining archeological sites continue to help researchers understand the state's past, whether that's from the age of dinosaurs, prehistoric life at Utah Lake or life or how Utah's railroad ghost towns functioned.
Cox concluded his video by asking for Utahns to sign a pledge, where the State Historic Preservation Office will offer a six-week informational email program about Utah's archeological sites and ways to avoid damage.
- Week 1: Learn About Utah's Past
- Week 2: Places to Visit
- Week 3: Think Like an Archaeologist
- Week 4: You Can Stop Archaeological Vandalism This Weekend
- Week 5: Become a Site Steward
- Week 6: Descendant Voices
"When a person pledges to 'Protect the Past,' they commit to following 'Visit with Respect Principles,' reporting damage that they see, and encouraging their friends and family to do the same," State Historic Preservation Office officials said. "Taking the pledge will also provide key information designed to not just help them protect the past, but get the most out of visiting archaeological sites."
