Thieves target parks artifacts

[GL]

Thieves target park's artifacts

Mojave National Preserve has 1,600 documented archaeological sites, some dating to 10,000 B.C. Many of them have been stripped of their pottery, baskets, stone tools and metates, arrowheads and other artifacts.

"What surprises me is how much material used to be there," said David Nichols, the preserve's full-time archaeologist, who compared his findings with old field surveys. "At most of these sites, I'd say 70 percent of the visible cultural material is gone."

Rampant looting predates the Park Service. An area first documented in 1977 was so rich in artifacts that it was dubbed the Freightwagon Site because you could fill one with the stuff. A researcher's report offered this prescient observation: "As soon as this site location becomes public knowledge, it will be vandalized by off-the-road enthusiasts."

When an associate of Nichols' revisited the area last year, nearly everything was gone. Off-road quad tracks led straight to the site from the freeway.

"It's awful," Nichols said. "And because the place is so vast we never, ever catch anyone in the act of doing anything."

American Indian petroglyphs have been cut from rock walls. Boulders adorned with ancient art have vanished. Vandalism is pervasive, especially of petroglyphs depicting "mask figures," which resemble a human face. People shoot at them for target practice.

"I dream of the day that I come around a corner and find a guy with a hammer and chisel," Nichols said.

Maybe he shouldn't, given that Nichols patrols the backcountry unarmed.

HERE

 

[pickaway]

Re: Thieves target park's artifacts

Sounds like a good job for a predator drone...

 

[Airborne80]

Re: Thieves target park's artifacts

Sounds like a good job for a predator drone...

Yea..... complete with a Hellfire Missile!

 

[Jonnyreb]

Re: Thieves target park's artifacts

You know guys, surface artifacts have lost ALL archeological significance. It shouldnt be a problem to pick things up off the surface. You know, they would have no problem with the idea of one of those off road vehicles running over an artifact and destroying it. They just dont want the common folks to have anything...However...That said, anyone who would remove petroglyphes, even from private property "in my opinion" or use it for "target practice" is guilty of culturcide. As despicable as genocide in that it erases the memory of long vanished people from the earth except to God. Thats just plain despicable. Disrespectful. Just my two cents.

 

[gilmerman]

Re: Thieves target park's artifacts

Another case of the authorities not keeping relics safe. They consider us graverobbers and destroying the history of an arrowhead we pick up, when they have artifacts piled up in universities and musems that are rotting and suffering water damage ect. Its like the space program,they have more information than they can or will study.