Rock Art Etiquette or go back to sites to view pictures
Rock art sites have survived for thousands of years and will continue to survive for many thousands more... providing no one ever visits them again! In other words, the greatest danger to the sites is people. Many prehistoric sites have been flooded due to the building of dams along water courses where prehistoric people once lived, but millions of people now benefit from those dams. Many more sites have been destroyed by highway construction (wouldn't you know we need to put our highways right on top the very same pathways prehistoric people once used!), but hundreds of thousands of people now benefit from those highways. And today, sites are being destroyed to make room for housing projects that will benefit still hundreds of more people. Every year we build further and further into areas that were once protected only by their desolation. In the near future these prehistoric sites will be protected only by the attitudes of the citizens of this country. Sounds bleak for the rock art, and it is. Maybe public attitude and the situation will change, but until it does, there are some things that each of us can do.
Don't trespass on other people's property. Ask for permission and if you get it, follow their rules.
Don't drive right up to a prehistoric site. Walk the last half or quarter mile. It is good exercise, you might see some wildlife or other interesting stuff along the way, hold your kids hand and do some bonding.
If you pick something up off of the ground - take a good look at it, check it out. Let the others in your group check it out too, and then put it back where you found it.
Note: Petroglyph sites are not confined only to where the actual carved images are, they include the surrounding area as well. The surrounding area may include prehistoric campsites, villages, food processing locations, quarries, rock alignments, hunting blinds and a whole host of other archaeological interests. It is these other interests that help to give us supportive data about the carved images and they need to be preserved as well.
Never carry glassware with you and what ever you carry in, carry out. And if you want to really help, carry out some trash that someone not as considerate as you left behind.
Do take photographs or make sketches of the 'glyphs.
Do show the pictures to all of your friends and family.
Do look up information about petroglyphs on the internet and in books.
Do not make 'rubbings'. Most people don't know how to do rubbings properly and then don't know what to do with them later. Besides, the 'glyph could easily be damaged.
No touching the 'glyphs, especially pictographs (pictos'). Touching will dislodge lose pieces of stone or paint, and natural body oils (or whatever lotions you have on your skin) are not good for the 'glyphs. It is hard not to touch... so if you can't control yourself touch a nearby stone instead.
Don't climb above the petroglyphs. You may dislodge loose stone that will fall and damage them. And if you fall you'll scrape yourself on the stone you'll bleed on the petroglyphs on the way down! (see no touching).
Note: I didn't mention 'don'ts' that fall in the category of common sense. However, since it only takes one person to ruin things for everyone else, I'll sum up the common sense don'ts for them:
Don't do anything to a petroglyph that you wouldn't do first to your own head. That includes painting it, shooting it or carving your initials in it.
Final Note: Do have a good time, be safe and act responsibly. Enjoy the outdoors and remember, it is about appreciating and preserving prehistoric rock art, not about indulging ourselves.
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