Legend Rock Petroglyphs

An overview of the cliff face where the petroglyphs are located. From here it looks like just any other cliff in Wyoming.

Looking up at the mud nests of the swallows.

Owl Creek(I think) flowing peacefully along in front of the cliff.

Finally. Some rock art. I started at the far(east) end of the cliff and worked west. Actually there are two cliffs with rock art on them. This is the lesser which is to the east of the main Legend Rock panels. Note the much older deer under the turtle? and antrromorph.

Here we have a number of glyphs that obviously span a wide time range. The sheep in the left center is quite old, is in bold outline and the feet may be cloven. To the left of the sheep is an indistinct figure and then what appears to be something riding a broom. The glyphs could probably be recovered by an artist making annotations of a enlarged photograph at the site. The figures at the right are more recent and somewhat whimsical. Some have elaborate head treatment. Then there is the thing with the long legs? and a handle? in the center.

Detail of these more recent glyphs.

Detail of these three olderr glyphs

Well we have a relatively old elk in the center. He appears to have been chalked in at one time. To his left is a relatively old but poorly (single tool?) quadraped with long ears. The other glyphs appear to be relatively modern.

More detail on this panel. It appears mostly mmodern.

This panel is interesting for the little character in the middle that is 'stepping out' as it were. The antromorph at his right has some sort of head dress an is raising one hand. Fingers are indicated on both hands.

A view of these panels in different light. There appears to the hoof prints in the jumping gliph in the center.

And another view including some dated grafitti.

At last. Dinwoody. This panel has panel has suffered from spalling but there is enough left to give some indication of the original. A lot of anthromorph below and obviously large Dinwoody figures above.

Dinwoody creature. Arms with elbows indicated and four fingers on each hand. Legs indicated but no knees. Torso is fully pecked. No neck is indicated and head? is stylized with elaborate head dress. Dinwoody on right arm appears to have been created at the same time as the main character. Also the outline figure to the immediate left of the main character and alot the stick figure? to the outline figure's immediate left. Note the single foot with toes indicated on the stick figure. The stick figure has a head treatment indicated, two arms and fingers indicated. The figure to the extreme right of the photograph appears to be more recent or may have been re-pecked more recently. The less distinct figures to the lower left of th photograph appear to be one sort of fremont character and maybe a zoomorph. Between the legs of the main character, is there an indication of a baby being born?? Are the indistinct characters at the lower left artifacts of the shamen talking and working out among themselves what to render as a main figure. All these petroglyphs are clearly visible from a distance and were suitable for use a part of a ceremony with audience participation.

Moving all along the cliff face this is the next large panel. Two creatures with elaborate head treatment. the one at the left with hands of three fingers each. This figure has short legs and feet are indicated. The one at the right is accompanied by a stick figure with elaborate head treatment. The stick fighure has two arms with fingers indicated. The main figure to the left has ornamentation descending from his 'horns'. Note the petroglypy rabbit at the upper left. And there is the figure at the upper center that is roughly executed. Close examination of the lower part of the stone face reveals a number of tool marks that appear to be old. As with many of these sites, an on site artist might be able to recover some of the glyphs before they are lost.

Detail of the rabbit? from the previous image.

Unfortunately spalling has damaged this nice elk.

Now we come to this panel with another figure of the elaborate head dress. Many of these head treatments remind me of the horns of a buffalo. The character has two arms with no elbows indicated but with three fingers on each hand. Feet are indicated on stump legs. There appears to have been some pattern pecked in the head area. The head dress has 'fringe' on the top and bottom. Now to that enormous figure on the left. Well whaterver it was, it was a big one. There appears to be feet under it and a long 'neck' extending to the right.

A look back down the rock face at some of the previous panels from a different perspective. Note the interior detail in the 'head' of the large figure in the right center of the picture.