Is the Barrier Canyon rock art of Utah depicting plasma storms in the atmosphere from long ago?

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

I’m not sure where to post this so Mods please feel free to move wherever appropriate. That said..

I recently ran across some fascinating research while investigating for a different thread I made here earlier regarding lightning and associated Native American beliefs. The research pertains to the idea that ancient rock art depicts "electrical sprites".

* Barrier Canyon Style (Utah, USA): Painted by Desert Archaic peoples between 2000 BCE and 500 CE


Some researchers and plasma physicists theorize that certain ancient petroglyphs and pictographs depict auroral events. Under extreme electromagnetic conditions, high-altitude plasma lightning known as red sprites can resemble towering, luminous, pillar-like figures with trailing, branching tendrils. Proponents of this theory suggest prehistoric cultures documented these rare, violent upper-atmospheric plasma displays in their pictographs.

When you look at images of these sprites, remember that they only exist for a fraction of a second and when seen with the naked eye, you rarely see all the tendrils below them that a camera catches. They look like ghostly, floating red pillars, usually several next to each other but not quite level with each other.

They are not frequently naked-eye visible from the ground these days as you need dark skies and a very wide open view - you need to be able to see the top of a large storm from 80 - 100 miles away. Of course, an ancient people living in the wide open semi-arid desert would have seen them often enough.

Given what modern Pueblo people tell us about rock art frequently depicting "cloud people" and “thunder beings”, or deities associated with rain, this really does feel like the most plausible suggestion for inspiration of this art style that I've ever heard.

Could these ghostly images be ancient depictions of Plasma Sprites? What are your thoughts? 🤔

??

 

[releventchair]

Awesome consideration. i see what you're asking.

The last picture has a cloud (?) in it. The comb shaped one. It could be considered deliberate context of space with an entity in it's realm.(?)

it is a busy scene and I'm skipping multiple characters.

Lower right figure shows internal organs.
So to do water manito pictographs far N.E. of your site. One somewhere shows a feline looking body with the wavy insides .
https://timetraveltrek.com/agawa-rock-pictographs/ could be some?

PICTOGRAPH. Ojibwa pictograph of manito Mishipeshu: paint on granite from north shore of Lake Superior, Ontario.​

 

[releventchair]

Underwater panther - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I'm not finding the picture I want.

The underwater Manitou pic. I saw drawn long ago had your sites internal organ/one long intestine looking insides. i don't know what the internals means other than maybe it's areal creature by being able to pass things through it?
But was feared for it drowning by sudden deliberate stirring of the water into action.
Possibly wherever that picture was also suggested the great distance such a Manitou was recognized among multiple groups/nations of people in North America. (?)

 

[Red-Coat]

Interesting idea, but worth noting that the hypothesis has largely been promoted by Dr, Robert M. Schoch, an associate professor of Natural Sciences at Boston University. He’s widely classified as a fringe scientist and psuedohistorian, best known for his (rejected by mainstream archaeologists) Sphinx erosion hypothesis and his theories on ancient civilisations.

In ‘Voyages of the Pyramid Builders’ he proposes that the spread of pyramids around the world might be the result of the destruction of an ancient protocivilization forced out of their homelands in SE Asia between 8000 and 6000 years ago by rising sea levels arising from repeated cometary impacts. He also proposes that, although the so-called ‘Yonaguni Monument’ is a natural underwater geological structure, it was enhanced and modified by humans in ancient times. In ‘Lost Secrets of the Gods’ he contributed an essay in support of the existence of ancient astronauts and has stated that psychokinesis and telepathy are potentially real phenomena.

 

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

Interesting idea, but worth noting that the hypothesis has largely been promoted by Dr, Robert M. Schoch, an associate professor of Natural Sciences at Boston University. He’s widely classified as a fringe scientist and psuedohistorian, best known for his (rejected by mainstream archaeologists) Sphinx erosion hypothesis and his theories on ancient civilisations.

In ‘Voyages of the Pyramid Builders’ he proposes that the spread of pyramids around the world might be the result of the destruction of an ancient protocivilization forced out of their homelands in SE Asia between 8000 and 6000 years ago by rising sea levels arising from repeated cometary impacts. He also proposes that, although the so-called ‘Yonaguni Monument’ is a natural underwater geological structure, it was enhanced and modified by humans in ancient times. In ‘Lost Secrets of the Gods’ he contributed an essay in support of the existence of ancient astronauts and has stated that psychokinesis and telepathy are potentially real phenomena.

Duly noted, and thank you. 👍
Actually, the research I spoke of was by plasma physicist Anthony L. Peratt, but it doesn’t surprise me to hear that it was bastardized by pseudo science types like the Ancient Aliens crowd.

I realize the field of ancient archaeology is rampant with pseudoscience thanks to some internet fringe gurus like Schoch, Talbott, and others I won’t mention here. But I do believe this theory to have some merit.

It is unlikely we will ever truly understand the meanings behind ancient rock art. Though I learned a lot from a close friend who was Native, about beliefs and their ways of expressing their beliefs, much still remains a mystery.

Regardless, in my opinion, this theory relating to Sprites is a better fit than any of the others promoted by the archeological community. Of course it’s all just conjecture on my behalf, and only my opinion.

 

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

Awesome consideration. i see what you're asking.

The last picture has a cloud (?) in it. The comb shaped one. It could be considered deliberate context of space with an entity in it's realm.(?)

it is a busy scene and I'm skipping multiple characters.

Lower right figure shows internal organs.
So to do water manito pictographs far N.E. of your site. One somewhere shows a feline looking body with the wavy insides .
https://timetraveltrek.com/agawa-rock-pictographs/ could be some?

PICTOGRAPH. Ojibwa pictograph of manito Mishipeshu: paint on granite from north shore of Lake Superior, Ontario.​

Great posts and information, RC. Yes there are a lot of similarities in Eastern and Western rock art. Some great examples, thank you.
👍

 

[DizzyDigger]

My initial thoughts after considering this image are that the image is
saying "I am rooted to this land, and will protect it", or "I belong to this land".

 

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

My initial thoughts after considering this image are that the image is
saying "I am rooted to this land, and will protect it", or "I belong to this land".

View attachment 2254312

That’s a reasonable translation, it very well could be. 👍

That one makes me wonder how the ancients would have represented someone who had been struck by lightning, after finding that it exited from the feet of the unlucky victim. Ouch.

 

[releventchair]

Great posts and information, RC. Yes there are a lot of similarities in Eastern and Western rock art. Some great examples, thank you.
👍

So busy a wall.
Back when ;one of the artists could explain it to us quick like probably.

Tall figures. Legs poking out hint they're wrapped in blankets or hides.
Ascension? Or people coming from the sky? I don't know local origin of people accounts. Or of other beings in or through the sky there in cultural lore.

To the right of the vertical flaw in the wall and above the figure bending towards an animal is a winged figure. Again with the cloud level (oh boy) far to it's left hinting the figure is in the sky .
Depending on nation/clan/people it could represent a thunderbird. Though it looks a bit human. Kind of.
The figure to it's left has horizontal stripes for an interesting contrast.( No it isn't Waldo.)
Left of Waldo a couple more characters is what seems a subjects robes split causing a vertical line . At armpit level is a horizontal line across the chest.


On the right half (ish) section a wavy wide dark horizontalish line looks like it might represent ground/earth. The leaning figure by an animal are standing on it.
However ; looking left the line ends at the loud and figures lower parts are below where that line would continue.
Which could be as simple as they are different pictures. L.o.l.. Which would wreck my eyeing the cloud for reference.
Below the cloud is a while /light inclusion ? Paired very well with the figure very close to the left of it.
The pair of them (one dark one light) centered below the cloud.

 

[releventchair]

Red ochre is an old society. Credit is given to Early Woodland people. But alleged Neanderthal use of ochre has been suggested also.
That spanned a lot of area. Vast. Per burials with red ochre.

Same Barrier canyon. Another whiteish figure. Very different than the other picture . But "among" subjects no doubt. Horizontal stripes not quite Waldo-ish.

No two figures alike.

 

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

Red ochre is an old society. Credit is given to Early Woodland people. But alleged Neanderthal use of ochre has been suggested also.
That spanned a lot of area. Vast. Per burials with red ochre.

Same Barrier canyon. Another whiteish figure. Very different than the other picture . But "among" subjects no doubt. Horizontal stripes not quite Waldo-ish.

No two figures alike.


View attachment 2254351

“Where’s Waldo?” lol. So many figures make me dizzy trying to make sense of them, but I’m especially glad you mention this one. I’ve found several opinions of what this one ‘supposedly’ represents.

Some LDS followers believe this is a depiction of Christ visiting the Indigenous peoples of Utah. Whether in physical or spirit form they are divided in opinion.

The pseudoscience crowd claim it to be evidence of Aliens.

I’ll admit the central figure does look kind of transparent or spirit like, then again the goggle eyes and height difference could be suggestive of an Alien.

But I’m sticking with the Sprite theory on this one as well.

 

[DizzyDigger]

I have little doubt that there are archeologists that have studied those indigenous
people, in-depth. There must be a publication somewhere that can tell you about
who those people were, and who/what their gods were (little g).

Without any understanding of that native culture, we're just taking a WAG at it.
Fill in the blanks, and things may start to make more sense.

 

[ToddsPoint]

The Powars II site is in Platte Co WY. It is a red ochre quarry. It was used by paleo Indians as early as 12,800 yrs ago. Red ochre was used continuously since that time. Take a flat piece of sandstone and add a little water. Rub a piece of ochre on it and you have instant red paint. To bond the paint to a rock face, all you need to do is add egg whites. That forms a chemical reaction and will bond the ochre to the rock face. That’s how these old red ochre figures have stayed put on the rock faces so long.

 

[releventchair]

“Where’s Waldo?” lol. So many figures make me dizzy trying to make sense of them, but I’m especially glad you mention this one. I’ve found several opinions of what this one ‘supposedly’ represents.

Some LDS followers believe this is a depiction of Christ visiting the Indigenous peoples of Utah. Whether in physical or spirit form they are divided in opinion.

The pseudoscience crowd claim it to be evidence of Aliens.

I’ll admit the central figure does look kind of transparent or spirit like, then again the goggle eyes and height difference could be suggestive of an Alien.

But I’m sticking with the Sprite theory on this one as well.

View attachment 2254366
View attachment 2254367

The palm tree looking sprites you mentioned originally.. Representing sprites would be phenom recorded. And the sky and its entities have been by lots of folks worldwide.
Catching rare glimpses certainly wants recorded.

White can be sorrow. Maybe death. Cultures color significances vary.

We see sugar skulls today that the alien figure would fit right in with. Almost.
Current culture(s) dining with dead ancestors is a ritual today not raising an eyebrow even.

Time to paint , and applying intellect to it , and subject matter ,and location...
Someday maybe a future group might be mildly perplexed trying to sort out some graffiti from today.
"No step on snek" painted on a rail car or something.

"Here we might have a warning that someone's lunch in the firm of a serpent had escaped.
It seems these people transported food and sundry items in these rectangular capsules.
They were dependent upon ribbons of steel with tree pieces between them holding them in place (somewhat) and most areas of human density at intervals had cement landings for them.
Apparently they hadn't mastered the art of levitation and flight to transport goods in such containers. Only landing / launch pads.

 

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

The Powars II site is in Platte Co WY. It is a red ochre quarry. It was used by paleo Indians as early as 12,800 yrs ago. Red ochre was used continuously since that time. Take a flat piece of sandstone and add a little water. Rub a piece of ochre on it and you have instant red paint. To bond the paint to a rock face, all you need to do is add egg whites. That forms a chemical reaction and will bond the ochre to the rock face. That’s how these old red ochre figures have stayed put on the rock faces so long.

That’s interesting, ToddsPoint. This artwork is attributed to the Desert Archaic Period, fitting well within that timeline in the use of Ochre. The use of egg whites is new to me. Unfortunately, everything I know about ancient archaeology would fit on a golf tee. I’ve just recently become interested in the subject and ran across this research. Thank you for sharing. 👍

 

[Puff the Tragic Wagon]

The palm tree looking sprites you mentioned originally.. Representing sprites would be phenom recorded. And the sky and its entities have been by lots of folks worldwide.
Catching rare glimpses certainly wants recorded.

White can be sorrow. Maybe death. Cultures color significances vary.

We see sugar skulls today that the alien figure would fit right in with. Almost.
Current culture(s) dining with dead ancestors is a ritual today not raising an eyebrow even.

Time to paint , and applying intellect to it , and subject matter ,and location...
Someday maybe a future group might be mildly perplexed trying to sort out some graffiti from today.
"No step on snek" painted on a rail car or something.

"Here we might have a warning that someone's lunch in the firm of a serpent had escaped.
It seems these people transported food and sundry items in these rectangular capsules.
They were dependent upon ribbons of steel with tree pieces between them holding them in place (somewhat) and most areas of human density at intervals had cement landings for them.
Apparently they hadn't mastered the art of levitation and flight to transport goods in such containers. Only landing / launch pads.

I shudder to think what future civilizations will think about the stuff we leave behind. IF there’s actually anything left of ours for them to find.

Going back to the large goggle eyed figure again, which is known as the Holy Ghost Panel. The accepted description is that of a bearded deity. But in paintings found in different pictographs nearby you find that “beard” has slid smooth off his face, lol. In other words, I believe it’s not a beard at all but a symbol for rain. Maybe a rain deity. You see the same image scattered throughout these panels. And the images that are claimed to be snakes are really lightning in my opinion.

Rain was Life, sustenance in the desert. You see tons of indigenous artwork depicting rain gods and thunder beings, rain for the crops, for the game they hunted. Another rationalization for those elongated figures in red ochre being inspired by Sprites, they would naturally associate them with rain since they only appear above electrical storms. Just makes sense to me, but as I’ve admitted previously, I’m no expert.