Rock Art
The nevAdA rock Art FoundAtion produced
this product with funding provided by the sale of
public lands by the BureAu oF LAnd MAnAgeMent
and approved under an inter-agency partnership
authorized by the Lincoln County Land Act.
Mt. Irish
Archaeological
Mount Irish
District
Archaeological
District
BLM
NRAF
LincoLn county
ArchAeoLogicAL initiAtive Project
Rock Art of Lincoln County
Mount Irish Archaeological District
Pres e rvin g
t h e Pas t
S
ome of the oldest petroglyphs in the Great Basin date to
10,000 years ago; in the Mt. Irish Archaeological District,
some petroglyphs are 4,000 years old. Despite this antiquity,
rock art, like other archaeological monuments, is a fragile part
of Nevada’s cultural heritage.
Natural erosional processes, such as weathering from water
and wind, are slowly wearing away these ancient markings.
Time itself works against the images as the surface of the
petroglyph slowly darkens, a process known as repatination,
which ultimately erases the glyphs.
Other threats include intentional defacement like graffiti
or other vandalism. This damage cannot be removed or even
camouflaged easily and is expensive to treat.
Federal and state laws protect archaeological sites from
vandalism and theft, and many sites are monitored by
concerned local citizens volunteering in the State of Nevada’s
site stewardship program. Because the past deserves a future,
visitors at archaeological sites can help by following a few simple
guidelines.
•
•
Take only pictures, leave only footprints
Be a steward—volunteer to monitor the condition of
archaeological sites
For more information on how you can help preserve Nevada’s
past, visit these websites
www.nv.blm.org
www.nvshpo.org/stewards.html
www.nvrockart.org
16
Mt. Iris h
Archae ologica l Dis t ric t
T
he Mt. Irish Archaeological District, located on the
eastern flank of the Mt. Irish Range, is one of the most
important archaeological areas in eastern Nevada. The District
covers 640 acres and provides a vista of prehistoric rock art and
habitation sites, set in a dramatic landscape of tuff (volcanic
ash) knolls and outcrops, alluvial fans, and washes. The District
is best known for spectacular rock art that portrays the cultural
lives of the Native American peoples who used the area some
4,000 years ago through the nineteenth century. The three
largest rock art sites in the District (Mt. Irish IV, V, and VI)
have interpretive trails and a trail guide that is available at
visitors’ register boxes at these sites.
Eastern Nevada, until the coming of Euro-American settlers
in the nineteenth century, was settled by hunter-gatherer
cultures who skillfully harvested the wild resources of this arid
region for several thousand years. Aided by deep knowledge of
the environment’s animal and plant resources, hunter-gatherers
used efficient technology and lived in small, mobile family
groups to gather seasonally available plants, animals, and other
resources across the landscape. The Mt. Irish area was used
for short-term stays to hunt animals, gather plants, and make
rock art. These repeated visits stretch back as far as 4,000 years
ago but became more intensive and frequent during the period
2,000-500 years ago.
Rock art, settlement, and economic activities are intertwined
in the Mt. Irish area. Many rock art sites are accompanied by
the remains of campsites and foraging activities. Rock-shelters,
middens, stone tools, and fragments of tools show that animals
and plants were often processed in the vicinity of rock art. Were
people drawn to the area by seasonally by available resources,
or did the area have a special social and cultural significance,
marked by rock art, that explains why hunter-gatherers visited
the area? The exact meanings and cultural significance of Mt.
Irish’s rock art and its landscape may be unknowable, but these
cultural marks indicate the area was important to the peoples
who used these galleries of ancient art. The rock art and the Mt.
1
Rock
RockArt
ArtofofLincoln
LincolnCounty
County
Mount
MountIrish
IrishArchaeological
ArchaeologicalDistrict
District
Mt. Iris h
Mt.
Iris h XI
Archae ologica
l Dis t ric t:
Sou
t
h
e
rn
Locus
In troduc tio n con t ’d
Th e Archae
ologica
Mt. Iris
h I: l
Dis teric
East
rn tLocus
M
t. Irish
XI is located
lower south-central
portion
Irish area
continue
today toinbethe
important
to Native American
the District,
approximately 140 m southwest of Mt.
peoplesofliving
in the region.
Irish
XI.Mt.
TheIrish
site area
comprises
38 main
petroglyph
panels
onone
a northThe
has two
rock art
styles,
south
trendingStyle)
tuff outcrop
and boulders
andisisuncertain
flanked atand
the
(Pahranagat
whose cultural
affiliation
O
south
end by aassociated
wash. Rock
art hunter-gatherers
is scattered along(Basin
a 150 m
stretch
one generally
with
and
Range
oftradition).
this outcrop,
accompaniedStyle
by occasional
evidence
of pastof
The Pahranagat
is an enigmatic
portrayal
resource
gathering
and
processing
(such asValley
milling
people that
is found
mostly
at sitesactivities
in Pahranagat
and is
slicks
and
toolCounty.
fragments).
Thestyle
association
between
unique
tostone
Lincoln
In this
people were
portrayed
symbolic
culture
and daily
elsewhere
in two very
different
ways.economic
One formroutines,
has oval seen
or rectangular
insolid-pecked
the District,bodies,
continues
largehere.
eyes, a short line protruding from
Abstract
designs
and
animal
in Basin
and Range
the
head, and
hands
that
have imagery
long fingers.
The other
form
tradition
style are predominant
These designs
include or
bisected
has a rectangular
body that hashere.
geometric
straight
circles,
circleand
clusters,
concentric
rows
of dots, these are
lines inside
stick-figure
armscircles,
and legs.
Sometimes
curvilinear
and rectilinear
rakes, and
asterisk-like
portrayed holding
objects motifs,
that resemble
atlatls
(dart throwers),
figures.
Portrayals
of animals
arebefore
dominated
by bighorn sheep
suggesting
this style
was made
the bow-and-arrow
was
(19)
andadopted
a small number
of deer
figures
People
widely
in the region
some
1,500(3).
years
ago.are portrayed
by four
§
Basinstick-figures.
and Range tradition
rock art comprises finely made
abstract designs, portrayals of people as stick-figures, and a wide
range of animal species, most commonly bighorn sheep. The
Mt. Irish area has one of the largest concentrations of bighorn
sheep images in eastern Nevada, almost half of these are found
at just one site, Mt. Irish VI.§
site’s 36 petroglyph panels in Basin and Range tradition style
are notable for an unusual arrangement of human footprints
that appear to climb up the cliff.
Abstract design types predominate,
including rakes, zigzags, wavy lines,
he Mt. Irish Archaeological District covers an area of 640
circles, possible portrayals of atlatls
acres and recognizes the heritage significance of the rock
(dart throwers), and rectilinear
art and other archaeological features in the District. These sites
and curvilinear meanders. More
represent major patterns in the prehistory of eastern Nevada
naturalistic forms include a
and are worthy of preservation. The District provides a record of
large number of bighorn sheep
unique rock art styles and the daily routines of hunter-gatherer
figures (approximately 19), several
groups that stretches back as much as 4,000 years.
stick-figure anthropomorphs (6), and the concentration of
The District is on public lands administered by the Bureau
human footprints. Based on the visual appearance of surface
of Land Management, Caliente Field Office. The Caliente Field
repatination (the fading of the petroglyphs as the rock surface
Office’s mission is, in partnership with the public, to provide
darkens), the petroglyphs are probably the same age. §
stewardship of the lands and resources entrusted to it for
present and future generations. §
14
2
ne of three rock art areas that make up the eastern locus
of the Mt. Irish Archaeological District, Mt. Irish I is
located south of the access road on a low tuff cliff and boulders
that line the sides of a northwest-southeast trending wash. The
T
315
Rock
Rock Art
Art ofof Lincoln
Lincoln County
County
Mount
Mount Irish
Irish Archaeological
Archaeological District
District
Mt.h Iris
II: d IX
Mt. Iris
VIIIhan
East
Sou
t heern
rn Locus
Locus
h X
Mt.Mt.
IrisIris
h III:
Souetrn
h e rn
Locus
East
Locus
M
N
M
M
large
petroglyph
boulder,
Mt. Irishis IX,
situated
at thethe
footgeneral
of past
tool-use and
tool making
scattered
around
ofvicinity
the northwest
faceart
of asite.
small tuff knoll. This petroglyph
of this rock
boulder
contains
very large bighorn
designtradition
(almost
The rock
art isone
representative
of Basinsheep
and Range
life-size)
and three
smaller
bighorn
sheep
figures
(one rectangles
of which
types. Abstract
designs
include
fields
of dots,
circles,
superimposes the other) and with
a dumbbell-like
design (agrids,
pair of
internal decoration,
open circles connected by a horizontal
ladder-likeline).
designs, straight
This is one of the largest portrayals
of a bighorn
lines, rake-like
designs,sheep
and known
in the District. Most figurative
art images
are muchare
longrock
meanders.
Zoomorphs
smaller than the real objects common,
being portrayed.
If Mt.
X has
represented
byIrish
schematic
the biggest sheep petroglyphbighorn
in the region,
then Narrows
sheep figures
(18) andIV
in the White River Narrows other
National
Register (11).
District
quadrupeds
One(about
stick25
milesanthropomorph
to the north) may
smallest.
The cultural
figure
andhave
one the
possible
Pahranagat
style
significance
of differences
the latter
size ofcould
animal
imagery
in rock
figure are also
represented.inThe
indicate
a period
art
is not well understood.
§ (BP) for some of the site’s rock
of 2,300-1,500
before present
evidence
of tool-making
and use, illustrating that everyday
pecked
on top
of older ones.
activities
tookboth
place
against
backdrop
of pecked
stone
The site has
Basin
andaRange
tradition
abstract
motifs
images.
The
site’s
rock
art
is
largely
abstract
designs
and
and bighorn sheep imagery, as well as two
animal imagery
that are
representative
examples
of Pahranagat
style
portrayals of Basin and Range
tradition
motifs.
Abstract
designs
of people (both are rectangular in include rows of dots,
circles
and
clustersdecoration).
of circles, wavy
lines, zigzags, curvilinear
form
with
internal
Motifs
meanders,
rakes,
and
chevrons.
Animal
unique to this location include a possible figures include 15
bighorn
sheep
4 other quadrupeds. No portrayals of
wading
bird
andand
an anthropomorph
people
appear
to
be
present
at this
site, which is unusual for
with short lines extending
from
its head,
sites larger
than a headgear.
few panelsThis
in the
Great Basin. §
perhaps
indicating
style
of anthropomorph is often regarded as
an attribute of Fremont or Ancestral
Puebloan style rock art. These ancient farmers were based in
Utah and the Southwest during the period 2,000 to 850 years
ago. This design shows that eastern Nevada hunter-gatherers
had cultural contact with Fremont and Puebloan groups,
something also shown by pottery belonging to these cultures
being found at sites in the region. §
t. Irish
VIIIaccess
is in aroad
largeand
alcove
andfrom
has Mt.
a large
squareorth
of the
visible
Irish
I, Mt.
bodied
sheep high26
onpetroglyph
the outcrop,
easilyconcentrated
visible from a
Irish
II comprises
panels
distance,
andoutcrops
a few other
motifs. This
is west
on two tuff
thatscattered
are approximately
150alcove
m apart
but
ofconnected
Mt. Irishby
VIIcontinuity
and facesin
east.
Farther
to theand
weststyle.
is a single,
design
elements
Evidence
art and usage. The site includes large, densely packed panels,
particularly at the northern outcrop, showing that people were
repeatedly drawn to the same place to leave cultural marks in
the landscape. §
4
12
IrishIIIXconsists
is located
south-central
t. t.Irish
of in
16 the
rocklower
art panels
that are portion
all on
of
the
District
on
a
tuff
knoll
and
cliff-face.
The site
the north-facing side of a tuff monolith. In places,
the is
approximately
150 m
northwest
of Mt.designs
Irish IX
and
X. had
rock
art forms large
panels
of complex
that
have
The
site
comprises
22
petroglyph
panels
(86
motifs)
and
some elements superimposed, meaning newer images were
135
Rock
Rock Art
Art ofof Lincoln
Lincoln County
County
Mount
Mount Irish
Irish Archaeological
Archaeological District
District
Mt. Iris h VI:
IV:
West e rn Locus
Mt. Iris h V:
VII:
West
e
rn
Locus
Sou t h e rn Locus
M
M
M
T
and contains 80 rock art panels, all representative of Basin and
Mt.tradition
Irish VI is
concentrated
on thedesigns
south and
eastern
Range
motif
types. Abstract
include
rows of
side
of
a
large
tuff
outcrop
and
is
very
extensive.
The
siteinternal
is
dots, circles, spirals, ladder-like designs, rectangles with
distinguished
by both its
Pahranagat
decoration, rake-like
designs, meanders,
arcs,
and lines.style
Several
figures and its quantity of bighorn sheep
designs. Over 100 portrayals of bighorn sheep
are known from the site, one of the largest
concentrations in eastern Nevada. The bighorn
sheep are frequently portrayed in lines or
groups, as if to depict small herds. Pahranagat
style figures at the site include both the
solid-pecked and rectangular body types. The
solid-pecked types include at least one that is
dramatically
posedbyand
visuallyline,
prominent.
number of the
circles
are bisected
a vertical
possibly A
a schematic
rectangular
body
types
are
portrayed
holding
atlatls
portrayal of atlatls (dart throwers) that would indicateorandart
age of
throwers,
suggesting
that
the
Pahranagat
style
started
to
be
4,000-1,500 years ago for some of the rock art. Representational
made
before
the
introduction
of
bow
and
arrow
technology
designs include large numbers of bighorn sheep, deer, other in
the area some
1,500
years ago.anthropomorphs.
§
quadrupeds,
and
stick-figure
§
made on horizontal as well as vertical surfaces, so some rock
for
examples
of theFacing
Pahranagat
style.
Because
art their
is notexcellent
visible from
a distance.
mostly
south,
the site
these
two
sites
are
very
similar
in
styles
and
images
portrayed,
has large, densely arranged
they
probably
belong to the same period. Trail guides for Mt.
panels
of representational
Irish
V
and
VI
are available
from the visitors’ register box.
and abstract images.
At
Mt.
Irish
V’s hill
68 rock
the
foot
of the
is a art panels are tightly distributed
around
a
well-defined
tuff outcrop, ranging from the foot of
particularly lively bighorn
the
outcrop
its farther
top. The site’s abstract motifs include circles
sheep
imagetoand
bisected
by
a
vertical
line, possibly intended to portray atlatls
upslope is a coyote. Like
or
dartsites
throwers,
could mean some of the site’s rock art
other
in the which
District,
was
made
during
the
period
4,000-1,500 years ago. Evidence
prehistoric artists at Mt.
of
ancient
campsites
in theofvicinity show that the site was used
Irish
VII took
advantage
most
intensively
during
periodviewing
1,500-400
years
Thisthe
the natural topography the
to define
areas
andago.
display
provides
clues to the
age of
the Pahranagat
style in eastern
rock art imagery
to best
effect.
§
Nevada. Pahranagat style figures at the site include both the
solid-pecked and rectangular body types. These are situated
prominently in the outcrop, accompanied by bighorn sheep
figures as well as abstract designs. §
IrishIV,
VIV,
is the
rock at
artthe
sitewestern
in the District
t.t.Irish
andsingle
VI arelargest
all located
end
(129
panels)
and
is
50
m
to
the
west
of
Mt.
with
of the District, making up the western locus.Irish
Mt.V,Irish
which
is similar
rock
art stylesfrom
and themes,
and register
most likely
IV
has aittrail
guide in
that
is available
the visitors’
both
were
used
during
the
same
period.
box. The site is one of the largest rock art sites in the District
10
6
Irish V and
VIcomprises
together comprise
het. southern
locus
scatteredthe
rockdensest
art panels and
concentration
of
rock
art
in
the
District
and
only to
dense concentrations of rock art on tuff knollsare
flanked
separated
short distance.
Both
sites
the most of
the north by
by aLogan
Creek. Mt.
Irish
VIIare
is among
the southernmost
significant
rock
art
sites
in
eastern
Nevada
and
are
well
these concentrations, situated on top of a low hill. Rockknown
art was
117
VI !
�(
�(V
!
Rock Art of Lincoln County
8
The Mount Irish Archaeological District is located about 125 miles north of
Las Vegas, 145 miles south of Ely, and approximately 6.5 miles west of the
small town of Hiko. From the junction of SR 375 and SR 318, just south of
Hiko, head north on SR 318 for approximately 2.5 miles and then turn
west (left) onto the old Logan City road (just after the Key Pittman Wildlife
area). This is a dirt road. A vehicle with high clearance is recommended.
The entrance to this dirt road is marked by a wire gate. Pass through the
gate and head generally northwest for 6.5 miles.
The Mount Irish Archaeological District is on public lands managed by the
Bureau of Land Management, Caliente Field Office. Help protect the
environment by traveling on existing roads only.
N
�(II
!
IV
�(
!
III
�(
!
HIK
O
(6.5 m
iles)
XI
�(
!
Ely
�(I
!
�(X
!
V
(III
IX �
�(
!
VII
�(
!
!
318
Caliente
93
15
9
0
Las Vegas
0.25
Miles
0.5
Mount Irish Archaeological District
Mt. Irish
District
Rock Art of Lincoln County
Mount Irish Archaeological District
VI:
Mt. Iris h IV:
West e rn Locus
Mt. Iris h V:
VII:
Westt h
e rn
Sou
e rnLocus
Locus
M
M
M
T
and contains 80 rock art panels, all representative of Basin and
Mt.tradition
Irish VI motif
is concentrated
on thedesigns
south and
eastern
Range
types. Abstract
include
rows of
side circles,
of a large
tuff outcrop
anddesigns,
is very extensive.
site
is
dots,
spirals,
ladder-like
rectanglesThe
with
internal
distinguished
by
both
its
Pahranagat
style
decoration, rake-like designs, meanders, arcs, and lines. Several
figures and its quantity of bighorn sheep
designs. Over 100 portrayals of bighorn sheep
are known from the site, one of the largest
concentrations in eastern Nevada. The bighorn
sheep are frequently portrayed in lines or
groups, as if to depict small herds. Pahranagat
style figures at the site include both the
solid-pecked and rectangular body types. The
solid-pecked types include at least one that is
dramatically
posed
visuallyline,
prominent.
number of the
circles are bisected byand
a vertical
possibly A
a schematic
rectangular
body (dart
types throwers)
are portrayed
atlatls orandart
portrayal
of atlatls
that holding
would indicate
age of
throwers,
suggesting
that
the
Pahranagat
style
started
to
be
4,000-1,500 years ago for some of the rock art. Representational
made before
introduction
of bighorn
bow andsheep,
arrowdeer,
technology
designs
includethe
large
numbers of
other in
the
area
some
1,500
years
ago.
§
quadrupeds, and stick-figure anthropomorphs. §
made on horizontal as well as vertical surfaces, so some rock
for
art their
is notexcellent
visible from
examples
a distance.
of theFacing
Pahranagat
mostlystyle.
south,
Because
the site
these
has large,
two sites
densely
are arranged
very similar in styles and images portrayed,
they
panels
probably
of representational
belong to the same period. Trail guides for Mt.
Irish
and abstract
V and VI
images.
are available
At
from the visitors’ register box.
theMt.
foot
Irish
of the
V’shill
68 rock
is a art panels are tightly distributed
around
particularly
a well-defined
lively bighorn
tuff outcrop, ranging from the foot of
the
sheep
outcrop
imagetoand
its farther
top. The site’s abstract motifs include circles
bisected
upslope is
byaacoyote.
verticalLike
line, possibly intended to portray atlatls
or
other
dartsites
throwers,
in the District,
which could mean some of the site’s rock art
was
prehistoric
made during
artists the
at Mt.
period 4,000-1,500 years ago. Evidence
of
Irish
ancient
VII took
campsites
advantage
in theofvicinity show that the site was used
most
the natural
intensively
topography
during to
thedefine
periodviewing
1,500-400
areas
years
andago.
display
Thisthe
provides
rock art imagery
clues to the
to best
age effect.
of the Pahranagat
§
style in eastern
Nevada. Pahranagat style figures at the site include both the
solid-pecked and rectangular body types. These are situated
prominently in the outcrop, accompanied by bighorn sheep
figures as well as abstract designs. §
IrishIV,
VIV,
is and
the single
rock at
artthe
sitewestern
in the District
t.t.Irish
VI arelargest
all located
end
and
is 50 muptothe
thewestern
west of locus.
Mt. Irish
with
of(129
thepanels)
District,
making
Mt.V,
Irish
which
it
is
similar
in
rock
art
styles
and
themes,
and
most
IV has a trail guide that is available from the visitors’ registerlikely
bothThe
were
during
samerock
period.
box.
siteused
is one
of thethe
largest
art sites in the District
6
10
het.southern
Irish V and
locus
VIcomprises
together comprise
scattered the
rockdensest
art panels and
dense
concentration
concentrations
of rock
of art
rock
inart
theon
District
tuff knolls
and are
flanked
only to
separated
the north by
by aLogan
short Creek.
distance.
Mt.
Both
Irishsites
VIIare
is the
among
southernmost
the most of
significant
these concentrations,
rock art sites
situated
in eastern
on top
Nevada
of a low
andhill.
are Rock
well known
art was
117
Rock Art of Lincoln County
Mount Irish Archaeological District
Mt.h Iris
II: d IX
Mt. Iris
VIIIhan
East
Sou
t heern
rn Locus
Locus
Mt.
Iris
h X
Mt.
Iris
h III:
Souet rn
h e rn
Locus
East
Locus
M
N
M
M
large
petroglyph
boulder,
Mt. Irish
situated
at thethe
foot
of past
tool-use and
tool making
is IX,
scattered
around
general
of
the northwest
faceart
of site.
a small tuff knoll. This petroglyph
vicinity
of this rock
boulder
contains
very large bighorn
designtradition
(almost
The rock
art is one
representative
of Basin sheep
and Range
life-size)
and three
smaller
bighorn
sheep
figures
(onerectangles
of which
types. Abstract
designs
include
fields
of dots,
circles,
superimposes the other) andwith
a dumbbell-like
design (agrids,
pair of
internal decoration,
open circles connected by a horizontal
ladder-like line).
designs, straight
This is one of the largest portrayals
of a bighorn
lines, rake-like
designs,sheep
and known
in the District. Most figurative
art images
are muchare
longrock
meanders.
Zoomorphs
smaller than the real objectscommon,
being portrayed.
If Mt.
X has
represented
byIrish
schematic
the biggest sheep petroglyphbighorn
in the region,
then Narrows
sheep figures
(18) andIV
in the White River Narrowsother
National
Register(11).
District
quadrupeds
One (about
stick25
milesanthropomorph
to the north) may
the smallest.
The cultural
figure
andhave
one possible
Pahranagat
style
significance
of represented.
differences inThe
thelatter
size ofcould
animal
imagery
in rock
figure are also
indicate
a period
art
is not well understood.
§ (BP) for some of the site’s rock
of 2,300-1,500
before present
evidence
and use, illustrating that everyday
pecked
on of
toptool-making
of older ones.
activities
tookboth
placeBasin
against
backdrop
of pecked
stonemotifs
The site has
andaRange
tradition
abstract
images.
The
site’s
rock
art
is
largely
abstract
designs
and
and bighorn sheep imagery, as well as two
animal imagery
that arestyle
representative
examples
of Pahranagat
portrayals of Basin and Range
tradition
motifs.
Abstract
designs
of people (both are rectangular in include rows of dots,
circles
andinternal
clustersdecoration).
of circles, wavy
lines, zigzags, curvilinear
form
with
Motifs
meanders,
rakes,
and
chevrons.
Animal
unique to this location include a possible figures include 15
bighornbird
sheep
4 other quadrupeds. No portrayals of
wading
andand
an anthropomorph
people
appear
to
be
present
at this
site, which is unusual for
with short lines extending
from
its head,
sites larger
than a headgear.
few panels This
in the
Great Basin. §
perhaps
indicating
style
of anthropomorph is often regarded as
an attribute of Fremont or Ancestral
Puebloan style rock art. These ancient farmers were based in
Utah and the Southwest during the period 2,000 to 850 years
ago. This design shows that eastern Nevada hunter-gatherers
had cultural contact with Fremont and Puebloan groups,
something also shown by pottery belonging to these cultures
being found at sites in the region. §
t. Irish
VIIIaccess
is in road
a large
alcove
and
has Mt.
a large
squareorth
of the
and
visible
from
Irish
I, Mt.
bodied
sheep high26onpetroglyph
the outcrop,
easilyconcentrated
visible from a
Irish
II comprises
panels
distance,
andoutcrops
a few other
motifs. This
is west
on two tuff
thatscattered
are approximately
150alcove
m apart
but
of
Mt. Irishby
VII
and facesineast.
Farther
to theand
west
is a Evidence
single,
connected
continuity
design
elements
style.
art and usage. The site includes large, densely packed panels,
particularly at the northern outcrop, showing that people were
repeatedly drawn to the same place to leave cultural marks in
the landscape. §
4
12
IrishIII
X consists
is located
south-central
t.t.Irish
ofin
16the
rocklower
art panels
that areportion
all on
of
the
District
on
a
tuff
knoll
and
cliff-face.
The site
the north-facing side of a tuff monolith. In places,
theis
approximately
150 m
northwest
of Mt.designs
Irish IXthat
andhave
X. had
rock
art forms large
panels
of complex
The
site
comprises
22
petroglyph
panels
(86
motifs)
and
some elements superimposed, meaning newer images were
135
Rock Art of Lincoln County
Mount Irish Archaeological District
Mt. Iris h
Mt.
Iris h XI
Archae ologica
l Dis t ric t:
Sou
t
h
e
rn
Locus
In troduc tio n con t ’d
Th e Archae
ologica
Mt. Iris
h I: l
Dis teric
East
rnt Locus
t. Irish
XI istoday
located
lower south-central
portion
Irish area
continue
to in
bethe
important
to Native American
the District,
approximately 140 m southwest of Mt.
peoplesofliving
in the region.
Irish
sitearea
comprises
petroglyph
a northTheXI.
Mt.The
Irish
has two38main
rock artpanels
styles,on
one
south trending
tuffwhose
outcrop
and boulders
andis isuncertain
flanked atand
the
(Pahranagat
Style)
cultural
affiliation
M
O
south
end by aassociated
wash. Rock
arthunter-gatherers
is scattered along
a 150 and
m stretch
one
generally
with
(Basin
Range
of this outcrop,
accompanied
by isoccasional
evidence
of past
tradition).
The Pahranagat
Style
an enigmatic
portrayal
of
resource
gathering
processing
(such Valley
as milling
people
that
is foundand
mostly
at sites activities
in Pahranagat
and is
slicks and
stone tool
fragments).
The
association
between
unique
to Lincoln
County.
In this
style
people were
portrayed
symbolic
culture
andways.
daily One
economic
routines,
elsewhere
in
two very
different
form has
oval orseen
rectangular
in the District,
continues
solid-pecked
bodies,
large here.
eyes, a short line protruding from
designs
imagery
in Basin
and Range
theAbstract
head, and
handsand
thatanimal
have long
fingers.
The other
form
tradition
style arebody
predominant
here. Thesedesigns
includeorbisected
has
a rectangular
that has geometric
straight
circles,
circleand
clusters,
concentric
rows
of dots, these are
lines
inside
stick-figure
arms circles,
and legs.
Sometimes
curvilinearholding
and rectilinear
motifs,
rakes,atlatls
and asterisk-like
portrayed
objects that
resemble
(dart throwers),
figures. Portrayals
animals
dominated
by bighorn sheep
suggesting
this styleofwas
madeare
before
the bow-and-arrow
was
(19) andadopted
a smallin
number
of deer
figures
People
widely
the region
some
1,500(3).
years
ago. are portrayed
byBasin
four stick-figures.
§
and Range tradition
rock art comprises finely made
abstract designs, portrayals of people as stick-figures, and a wide
range of animal species, most commonly bighorn sheep. The
Mt. Irish area has one of the largest concentrations of bighorn
sheep images in eastern Nevada, almost half of these are found
at just one site, Mt. Irish VI.§
site’s 36 petroglyph panels in Basin and Range tradition style
are notable for an unusual arrangement of human footprints
that appear to climb up the cliff.
Abstract design types predominate,
including rakes, zigzags, wavy lines,
he Mt. Irish Archaeological District covers an area of 640
circles, possible portrayals of atlatls
acres and recognizes the heritage significance of the rock
(dart throwers), and rectilinear
art and other archaeological features in the District. These sites
and curvilinear meanders. More
represent major patterns in the prehistory of eastern Nevada
naturalistic forms include a
and are worthy of preservation. The District provides a record of
large number of bighorn sheep
unique rock art styles and the daily routines of hunter-gatherer
figures (approximately 19), several
groups that stretches back as much as 4,000 years.
stick-figure anthropomorphs (6), and the concentration of
The District is on public lands administered by the Bureau
human footprints. Based on the visual appearance of surface
of Land Management, Caliente Field Office. The Caliente Field
repatination (the fading of the petroglyphs as the rock surface
Office’s mission is, in partnership with the public, to provide
darkens), the petroglyphs are probably the same age. §
stewardship of the lands and resources entrusted to it for
present and future generations. §
2
14
ne of three rock art areas that make up the eastern locus
of the Mt. Irish Archaeological District, Mt. Irish I is
located south of the access road on a low tuff cliff and boulders
that line the sides of a northwest-southeast trending wash. The
T
15
3
Rock Art of Lincoln County
Mount Irish Archaeological District
Pres e rvin g
t h e Pas t
S
ome of the oldest petroglyphs in the Great Basin date to
10,000 years ago; in the Mt. Irish Archaeological District,
some petroglyphs are 4,000 years old. Despite this antiquity,
rock art, like other archaeological monuments, is a fragile part
of Nevada’s cultural heritage.
Natural erosional processes, such as weathering from water
and wind, are slowly wearing away these ancient markings.
Time itself works against the images as the surface of the
petroglyph slowly darkens, a process known as repatination,
which ultimately erases the glyphs.
Other threats include intentional defacement like graffiti
or other vandalism. This damage cannot be removed or even
camouflaged easily and is expensive to treat.
Federal and state laws protect archaeological sites from
vandalism and theft, and many sites are monitored by
concerned local citizens volunteering in the State of Nevada’s
site stewardship program. Because the past deserves a future,
visitors at archaeological sites can help by following a few simple
guidelines.
•
•
Take only pictures, leave only footprints
Be a steward—volunteer to monitor the condition of
archaeological sites
For more information on how you can help preserve Nevada’s
past, visit these websites
www.blm.gov/nv
www.nvshpo.org/stewards.html
www.nvrockart.org
16
Mt. Iris h
Archae ologica l Dis t ric t
T
he Mt. Irish Archaeological District, located on the
eastern flank of the Mt. Irish Range, is one of the most
important archaeological areas in eastern Nevada. The District
covers 640 acres and provides a vista of prehistoric rock art and
habitation sites, set in a dramatic landscape of tuff (volcanic
ash) knolls and outcrops, alluvial fans, and washes. The District
is best known for spectacular rock art that portrays the cultural
lives of the Native American peoples who used the area some
4,000 years ago through the nineteenth century. The three
largest rock art sites in the District (Mt. Irish IV, V, and VI)
have interpretive trails and a trail guide that is available at
visitors’ register boxes at these sites.
Eastern Nevada, until the coming of Euro-American settlers
in the nineteenth century, was settled by hunter-gatherer
cultures who skillfully harvested
