Archaeological Initiative Project
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.
Rock Art
White River Narrows
National Register
District
N E VA DA
R OCK A RT
F O U N DAT I O N
BLM
NRAF
Lincoln County
Rock Art of Lincoln County
White River Narrows National Register District
Whit e Ri v e r Na rrows
In troduc tio n
Pres e rvin g t h e Pas t
T
he oldest petroglyphs in the Great Basin are 8,000 years
old; in the White River Narrows, 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 weathering processes, such as wind and
rain, are slowly eroding these ancient markings. Other threats
include intentional defacement like graffiti or other vandalism.
Intentional damages cannot be removed or even camouflaged
easily and are 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
www.nvrockart.org
12
W
hite River Narrows, in lower White River Valley, is one
of the largest concentrations of prehistoric rock art in
eastern Nevada. The importance of the Narrows’ archaeological
heritage is recognized by its listing on the National Register
of Historic Places. The petroglyphs here provide glimpses into
the cultural lives of Native American peoples who lived by
harvesting wild plants and animals from some 4,000 years ago
until the nineteenth century. Although the exact meanings
of the Narrows’ rock art may be unknowable, they mark the
Narrows as a place important to those who made and used these
galleries of ancient art. These petroglyphs continue today to be
important to Native American peoples living in the region.
White River Narrows is a winding canyon that was carved
by the White River during the Pleistocene or Ice Age (ca. 2.5
million to 11,700 years ago). The Narrows forms a travel corridor
used by ancient Native American cultures and, more recently, it
was a route for unpaved SR38 until 1980.
For most of the region’s history, until the coming of EuroAmerican settlers in the nineteenth century, hunter-gatherer
cultures settled eastern Nevada. Hunters and gatherers skillfully
harvested the wild resources of the arid Great Basin. Their deep
environmental knowledge and efficient technology allowed
them to prosper in the region for thousands of years. Huntergatherer groups lived in small, mobile family groups and moved
across the landscape to gather seasonally available plants,
animals, and other resources. Their cultural knowledge was
expressed through song, myth, and rock art.
Early farmers from the Fremont
Culture (2000-850 years ago) of Utah
also influenced the prehistory of
eastern Nevada. Short-term campsites
and pottery made by the Fremont are
found in eastern Nevada, indicating
trade and cultural connections with
their core territory to the east.
1
Rock Art of Lincoln County
White River Narrows National Register District
ThNa
e Na
tionI a l
rrows
Regist e r Dis t ric t
InNa
troduc
rrowstio
VIn
(con t i n ued)
White
RiverVINarrows
hasnorth
two main
rock
styles, one
arrows
is near the
end of
theart
Narrows,
located
generally
associated
with
hunter-gatherers
(Basin
and
Range
on the east face of a tuff cliff. The site is notable for the
tradition)
and one
with Fremont
Basin
and with
Rangemany
sheer quantity
of densely
clusteredgroups.
rock art
images,
tradition
rock
art
is
distinguished
by
finely
made
abstract
younger designs placed on top of older ones.
N
T
N
designs
suchrange
as circles,
spirals,portrayed
rectangles,
wavy VI
lines.
The wide
of imagery
at and
Narrows
is These
were
often combined
to make complex
images long
and compositions
particularly
striking. Abstract
designs include
lines that
that
are
very
ambiguous
and
evocative.
In
this
tradition
of rock
extend for several meters, complex meanders, outlined crosses,
art,
artists
depicted
peopleRepresentational
as stick-figures. They
portrayed
rakes,
spirals,
and circles.
figures
include a
wide
range
of
animal
species,
most
commonly
bighorn
a large number of bighorn sheep (arranged in groups, assheep,
if
but
also deer,
coyotes,
lizards,
mountain
lions, and birds.(human
portraying
herds),
lizards,
stick-figure
anthropomorphs
Fremont
rock
art is famous
fordesigns
its stylized
portrayals
of people,of
figure), and
footprints.
These
are local
interpretations
sometimes
depicted
wearingrock
jewelry
Basin and Range
tradition
art. like necklaces and earrings.
Archaeologists
have
suggested
that rock art
have been
Possible Fremont-style anthropomorphs
are may
represented
made
to secure
aidcurved
for hunting and to ensure that
by a few
figuressupernatural
that have short
the
plants
and
animals
needed
by
people were abundant. Other
lines extending from their heads. One
archaeologists
thinkisthat
rock art
wasvertical
made by traditional
rectangular design
decorated
with
healers
(shamans)
to
secure
supernatural
powers and record
lines. This appears to be a Pahranagat-style
important
lore. More
recently, rock
art has been seen as one
patterned body
anthropomorph
(PBA),
way
that
people
turn
their
physical
environment
into culturally
which is distinctive to Lincoln County and
meaningful
places
by establishing
enduring landmarks.
is concentrated
in the
Pahranagat Valley
Rock
art
is
one
of
the
few
archaeological
monuments
where
area to the south. White River Narrows marks
the northernmost
contemporary
visitors
can stand
in art
the style.
footprints
known extent of
this regional
rock
§ of prehistoric
peoples and their descendants. §
history
thatsmall
are worthy
preservation.
Narrows’
listing
Two other
figuresofcan
be seen justThe
below
the rake:
a on
the
National
Register
highlights
serpentine
line
and a vertical
line.the importance of the District’s
rock
artrock
and art
other
features.
is on of
This
hasarchaeological
been suggested
by someThe
to District
be an example
public
lands administered
by theit Bureau
hunting-magic,
as they believe
portraysofa Land
game Management,
drive fence.
Caliente
Office.in an area that could have lent itself to
NarrowsField
I is located
game drives. Its
narrowed entries
could have been
blocked using
temporary fencing made of brush, directing game animals to
hidden hunters. But, there is no reason why cultural practices
(like rock art) intended to ensure hunting success would have
been done only at hunting locales. Alternatively, it has been
observed that during the summer solstice a shadow falls on
the center of the rake-like design. This has suggested to some
The Caliente
Office’sItmission
is, in partnership
a planned
solar Field
interaction.
is not possible
to prove ifwith
this
the
public,solar
to provide
stewardship
of the
lands and
apparent
interaction
is a chance
correlation
orresources
one intended
entrusted
to art’s
it formakers.
present §and future generations. §
by the rock
2
10
hearrows
WhiteI River
Narrowspetroglyph
sites collectively
form
a District
is an isolated
panel on
a large
tuff
covering
is canyon.
listed onThe
the most
National
boulder some
on the4,000
southacres
side that
of the
Register
of Historic
Register
recognizes
prominent
figure at Places.
the siteThe
is a National
finely made,
long rake-like
places
major patterns
in national
designthat
thatrepresent
runs horizontally
along the
width ofand
thelocal
boulder.
311
Rock Art of Lincoln County
White River Narrows National Register District
Na
Narrows
rrows III
V
Narrows
rrows IV
II
Na
N
N
designart
types,
suchare
asmostly
a human
hand-print,
sunbursts
(circles
Rock
designs
Basin
and Range
tradition
in style,
with
short
lines
radiating
around
their
disks),
wavy
lines,
and
including a deer, stick-figure anthropomorphs (human figures),
concentric
circles.
Most
notable
arewavy
curvilinear
abstractand
designs
bighorn
sheep,
small
rakes,
circles,
lines, zigzags,
that
are
unique
to
this
locality.
These
are
circles
and
ovals
meanders.
that
have lines
inside,
with curved
or slanted
Narrows
IV is
distinguished
by the
unusuallines
styleextending
of many of
from
their
tops,
resembling
“horns”
more
normally
seen
on
its zoomorphs (animal figures) as having long, narrow necks
anthropomorphic
and thin bodies. There are
(human) figures.
several miniature bighorn
The emphasis on
sheep figures that may be
these enigmatic,
unique to this site. These could
internally
decorated
represent a rare case where an individual artist
can be identified.
circles
and
ovals
Usually, it is only possible to identify broad periods in rock
Narrows
II or
art production rather than individual artists.atThe
lightness
illustrates
that
darkness of rock art’s patina (the color of the surface of the
certainindication
designs were
rock that darkens over time) may give some broad
only
made
at
particular
places.
What
makes
some
locations
of a design’s relative age. If a site’s rock art has patinas that are
appropriate
for specific
visibly
different
in colorsets
thenofitsymbols
is likelyand
thatcultural
the site behaviors
was made is
an
intriguing
question
prompted
by
sites
such
as
this.
§
over time by different artists. §
design
types—such
lines, and complex
way
of making
rock as
artcircles,
in the wavy
region.
meanders—predominate.
Representational
areDistrict,
limited
One of the largest concentrations
of rock images
art in the
to a few bighorn
sheep
figures because
and an unusual
figure
has
Narrows
III is also
prominent
of the scale
andthat
density
lines
head and
trailing
lines
of
its extending
designs. Itsfrom
highitsvisibility
and
the fact
that old SR 38 runs
extending
its arms
andthe
hands.
This of
could
by
the site from
probably
explain
quantity
graffiti initials and
be a portrayal
an animal
an unusual
dates
at the siteof(the
oldest oforwhich
is from 1926). Some of this
artistic has
treatment
of a person.
V over ancient rock art
graffiti
been placed
near or,Narrows
sometimes,
exemplifies
the wide
in design
types
and
is intrusive
to thevariation
site’s general
setting.
that
Basin and
Range
style rock
art and Range
Abstract
designs
are tradition
representative
of Basin
takes. types. Several rake-like figures are notable for their
tradition
The general
distribution
rock artdesigns
in White
River
length,
extending
4 meters pattern
or more.ofAnimal
include
Narrowssheep
highlights
thatpaw
where
rock Anthropomorphs
art was made was(human
culturally
bighorn
and bear
prints.
meaningful.
Rock
art is found
in and
concentrations
select
figures)
include
stick-figure
types
a number ofatunique
locations. Themes
and groupings
of designs
each
portrayals
that apparently
highlight
gender. distinguish
Fremont-style
site. This suggestsinclude
that different
placesthat
were
thought
be more
anthropomorphs
two figures
have
short,tocurved
appropriate
for certain
kinds
of rock
arthave
images.
Understanding
lines
extending
from their
heads.
Both
traces
of red
why particular
setsthem,
of designs
made
differentthat
places
in
pigment
in-filling
a rarewere
feature
thatatsuggests
some
the landscapemay
underpins
petroglyphs
also havemost
beenresearch
painted.into
§ rock art. §
arrows IV
II comprises
four petroglyph
panels
on
arrows
is on the south
side of a small
hill,onona cliff
a basalt
the west
side of(athe
canyon.
panels
are atboulders).
the foot of
cliff
and talus
slope
of rockThree
debris
and small
the
cliff,
near
the
north
end,
and
one
is
located
at
the
top are
of the
Petroglyphs are located mostly on vertical rock faces and
cliff. The site contains
well-known
Basin and
concentrated
at the middle
of the outcrop
andRange
its easttradition
end.
84
V isislocated
basalt
side ofat a
arrows III
locatedon
onathe
westoutcrop
side of by
thethe
canyon,
a dirtin
road.
north,
Narrows
canart
bewas
seenmade at
bend
the To
oldthe
river
channel.
Here,IV
rock
approximately
150cliff
meters
Narrows
V’sand
rock
art is Some
mostly
the
foot of a tuff
that away.
is, in places,
soft
friable.
abstractwere
designs
in Basin
and
Range
tradition
style. Curvilinear
designs
incised
rather
than
pecked,
a generally
uncommon
95
Rock Art of Lincoln County
White River Narrows National Register District
White Rivers Narrows is located by SR 318,
about 150 miles north of Las Vegas, 125
miles south of Ely, and 23 miles north 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 23 miles;
half a mile north of mile marker 23 turn east
onto a dirt road that intersects with SR 318
(there is a Stop sign at the intersection). The
White River Narrows sites are on public
lands managed by the Bureau of Land
Management, Caliente Field Office. Help
protect the environment by travelling on
existing roads only.
N
VI
Dir t road
Ely
III
318
White River
Narrows
II
Caliente
318
93
15
Dir t roa
d
I
Las Vegas
Hik
o
IV
V
0
6
Mi l es
1
0.5
7
Rock Art of Lincoln County
White River Narrows National Register District
Na
Narrows
rrows III
V
Narrows
rrows IV
II
Na
N
N
designart
types,
suchare
asmostly
a human
hand-print,
sunbursts
(circles
Rock
designs
Basin
and Range
tradition
in style,
with
short
lines
radiating
around
their
disks),
wavy
lines,
and
including a deer, stick-figure anthropomorphs (human figures),
concentric
circles.
Most
notable
arewavy
curvilinear
abstractand
designs
bighorn
sheep,
small
rakes,
circles,
lines, zigzags,
that
are
unique
to
this
locality.
These
are
circles
and
ovals
meanders.
that
have lines
inside,
with curved
or slanted
Narrows
IV is
distinguished
by the
unusuallines
styleextending
of many of
from
their
tops,
resembling
“horns”
more
normally
seen
on
its zoomorphs (animal figures) as having long, narrow necks
anthropomorphic
and thin bodies. There are
(human) figures.
several miniature bighorn
The emphasis on
sheep figures that may be
these enigmatic,
unique to this site. These could
internally
decorated
represent a rare case where an individual artist
can be identified.
circles
and
ovals
Usually, it is only possible to identify broad periods in rock
Narrows
II or
art production rather than individual artists.atThe
lightness
illustrates
that
darkness of rock art’s patina (the color of the surface of the
certainindication
designs were
rock that darkens over time) may give some broad
only
made
at
particular
places.
What
makes
some
locations
of a design’s relative age. If a site’s rock art has patinas that are
appropriate
for specific
visibly
different
in colorsets
thenofitsymbols
is likelyand
thatcultural
the site behaviors
was made is
an
intriguing
question
prompted
by
sites
such
as
this.
§
over time by different artists. §
design
types—such
lines, and complex
way
of making
rock as
artcircles,
in the wavy
region.
meanders—predominate.
Representational
areDistrict,
limited
One of the largest concentrations
of rock images
art in the
to a few bighorn
sheep
figures because
and an unusual
figure
has
Narrows
III is also
prominent
of the scale
andthat
density
lines
head and
trailing
lines
of
its extending
designs. Itsfrom
highitsvisibility
and
the fact
that old SR 38 runs
extending
its arms
andthe
hands.
This of
could
by
the site from
probably
explain
quantity
graffiti initials and
be a portrayal
an animal
an unusual
dates
at the siteof(the
oldest oforwhich
is from 1926). Some of this
artistic has
treatment
of a person.
V over ancient rock art
graffiti
been placed
near or,Narrows
sometimes,
exemplifies
the wide
in design
types
and
is intrusive
to thevariation
site’s general
setting.
that
Basin and
Range
style rock
art and Range
Abstract
designs
are tradition
representative
of Basin
takes. types. Several rake-like figures are notable for their
tradition
The general
distribution
rock artdesigns
in White
River
length,
extending
4 meters pattern
or more.ofAnimal
include
Narrowssheep
highlights
thatpaw
where
rock Anthropomorphs
art was made was(human
culturally
bighorn
and bear
prints.
meaningful.
Rock
art is found
in and
concentrations
select
figures)
include
stick-figure
types
a number ofatunique
locations. Themes
and groupings
of designs
each
portrayals
that apparently
highlight
gender. distinguish
Fremont-style
site. This suggestsinclude
that different
placesthat
were
thought
be more
anthropomorphs
two figures
have
short,tocurved
appropriate
for certain
kinds
of rock
arthave
images.
Understanding
lines
extending
from their
heads.
Both
traces
of red
why particular
setsthem,
of designs
made
differentthat
places
in
pigment
in-filling
a rarewere
feature
thatatsuggests
some
the landscapemay
underpins
petroglyphs
also havemost
beenresearch
painted.into
§ rock art. §
arrows IV
II comprises
four petroglyph
panels
on
arrows
is on the south
side of a small
hill,onona cliff
a basalt
the west
side of(athe
canyon.
panels
are atboulders).
the foot of
cliff
and talus
slope
of rockThree
debris
and small
the
cliff,
near
the
north
end,
and
one
is
located
at
the
top are
of the
Petroglyphs are located mostly on vertical rock faces and
cliff. The site contains
well-known
Basin and
concentrated
at the middle
of the outcrop
andRange
its easttradition
end.
84
V isislocated
basalt
side ofat a
arrows III
locatedon
onathe
westoutcrop
side of by
thethe
canyon,
a dirtin
road.
north,
Narrows
canart
bewas
seenmade at
bend
the To
oldthe
river
channel.
Here,IV
rock
approximately
150cliff
meters
Narrows
V’sand
rock
art is Some
mostly
the
foot of a tuff
that away.
is, in places,
soft
friable.
abstractwere
designs
in Basin
and
Range
tradition
style. Curvilinear
designs
incised
rather
than
pecked,
a generally
uncommon
95
Rock Art of Lincoln County
White River Narrows National Register District
ThNa
e Na
tionI a l
rrows
Regist e r Dis t ric t
InNa
troduc
rrowstio
VIn
(con t i n ued)
White
River
hasnorth
two main
rock
styles, one
arrows
VINarrows
is near the
end of
theart
Narrows,
located
generally
associated
with
hunter-gatherers
(Basin
and
Range
on the east face of a tuff cliff. The site is notable for the
tradition)
and one
with Fremont
Basin
and with
Rangemany
sheer quantity
of densely
clusteredgroups.
rock art
images,
tradition
rock
art
is
distinguished
by
finely
made
abstract
younger designs placed on top of older ones.
N
T
N
designs
suchrange
as circles,
spirals,portrayed
rectangles,
wavy VI
lines.
The wide
of imagery
at and
Narrows
is These
were
often combined
to make complex
images long
and compositions
particularly
striking. Abstract
designs include
lines that
that
are
very
ambiguous
and
evocative.
In
this
tradition
of rock
extend for several meters, complex meanders, outlined crosses,
art,
artists
depicted
peopleRepresentational
as stick-figures. They
portrayed
rakes,
spirals,
and circles.
figures
include a
wide
range
of
animal
species,
most
commonly
bighorn
a large number of bighorn sheep (arranged in groups, assheep,
if
but
also deer,
coyotes,
lizards,
mountain
lions, and birds.(human
portraying
herds),
lizards,
stick-figure
anthropomorphs
Fremont
rock
art is famous
its stylized
portrayals
of people,of
figure), and
footprints.
Thesefordesigns
are local
interpretations
sometimes
depicted
wearingrock
jewelry
Basin and Range
tradition
art. like necklaces and earrings.
Archaeologists
have
suggested
that rock art
have been
Possible Fremont-style anthropomorphs
are may
represented
made
to secure
aidcurved
for hunting and to ensure that
by a few
figuressupernatural
that have short
the
plants
and
animals
needed
by
people were abundant. Other
lines extending from their heads. One
archaeologists
thinkis that
rock art
wasvertical
made by traditional
rectangular design
decorated
with
healers
(shamans)
to
secure
supernatural
powers and record
lines. This appears to be a Pahranagat-style
important
lore. More
recently, rock
art has been seen as one
patterned body
anthropomorph
(PBA),
way
that
people
turn
their
physical
environment
into culturally
which is distinctive to Lincoln County and
meaningful
places
by establishing
enduring landmarks.
is concentrated
in the
Pahranagat Valley
Rock
art
is
one
of
the
few
archaeological
monuments
where
area to the south. White River Narrows marks
the northernmost
contemporary
visitors
can stand
in art
the style.
footprints
of prehistoric
known extent of
this regional
rock
§
peoples and their descendants. §
history
thatsmall
are worthy
preservation.
Narrows’
listing
Two other
figuresofcan
be seen justThe
below
the rake:
a on
the
National
Register
highlights
serpentine
line
and a vertical
line.the importance of the District’s
rock
artrock
and art
other
features.
District
is on of
This
hasarchaeological
been suggested
by someThe
to be
an example
public
lands administered
by theit Bureau
hunting-magic,
as they believe
portraysofa Land
game Management,
drive fence.
Caliente
Office.in an area that could have lent itself to
NarrowsField
I is located
game drives. Its
narrowed entries
could have been
blocked using
temporary fencing made of brush, directing game animals to
hidden hunters. But, there is no reason why cultural practices
(like rock art) intended to ensure hunting success would have
been done only at hunting locales. Alternatively, it has been
observed that during the summer solstice a shadow falls on
the center of the rake-like design. This has suggested to some
The Caliente
Office’sItmission
is, in partnership
a planned
solar Field
interaction.
is not possible
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10
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311
Rock Art of Lincoln County
White River Narrows National Register District
Whit e Ri v e r Na rrows
In troduc tio n
Pres e rvin g t h e Pas t
T
he oldest petroglyphs in the Great Basin are 8,000 years
old; in the White River Narrows, 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 weathering processes, such as wind and
rain, are slowly eroding these ancient markings. Other threats
include intentional defacement like graffiti or other vandalism.
Intentional damages cannot be removed or even camouflaged
easily and are 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
www.nvrockart.org
12
W
hite River Narrows, in lower White River Valley, is one
of the largest concentrations of prehistoric rock art in
eastern Nevada. The importance of the Narrows’ archaeological
heritage is recognized by its listing on the National Register
of Historic Places. The petroglyphs here provide glimpses into
the cultural lives of Native American peoples who lived by
harvesting wild plants and animals from some 4,000 years ago
until the nineteenth century. Although the exact meanings
of the Narrows’ rock art may be unknowable, they mark the
Narrows as a place important to those who made and used these
galleries of ancient art. These petroglyphs continue today to be
important to Native American peoples living in the region.
White River Narrows is a winding canyon that was carved
by the White River during the Pleistocene or Ice Age (ca. 2.5
million to 11,700 years ago). The Narrows forms a travel corridor
used by ancient Native American cultures and, more recently, it
was a route for unpaved SR38 until 1980.
For most of the region’s history, until the coming of EuroAmerican settlers in the nineteenth century, hunter-gatherer
cultures settled eastern Nevada. Hunters and gatherers skillfully
harvested the wild resources of the arid Great Basin. Their deep
environmental knowledge and efficient technology allowed
them to prosper in the region for thousands of years. Huntergatherer groups lived in small, mobile family groups and moved
across the landscape to gather seasonally available plants,
animals, and other resources. Their cultural knowledge was
expressed through song, myth, and rock art.
Early farmers from the Fremont
Culture (2000-850 years ago) of Utah
also influenced the prehistory of
eastern Nevada. Short-term campsites
and pottery made by the Fremont are
found in eastern Nevada, indicating
trade and cultural connections with
their core territory to the east.
1
