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Thompson Springs (Sego Canyon) Rock Art

At this site people of different cultures left their art on the same canyon walls over thousands of years. The oldest are what may be a rare Polychromatic Abstract-geometric figure and the Barrier Canyon Style paintings, both of the Archaic era. The Fremont added their figures roughly 300 to 1300 CE, Ute artists followed in the Historic period, and modern visitors have added their own graffiti.

Barrier Canyon Style painted figures at Thompson Springs

This impressive Barrier Canyon Style panel is easily accessible by car, being a few minutes north of I-70, and is well worth viewing. It was heavily vandalized over many years but has been restored.

Wide view of the full Barrier Canyon Style panel of painted figures on a sandstone cliff above shrubs

The full panel.

Historic Ute petroglyphs with horses, riders and round shield figures

This Ute rock art is obviously Historic because of the depiction of horses. The round forms are likely shield figures. Some forms on the right may be bison.

White Fremont figures painted over a faded older panel, with historic graffiti

These Fremont petroglyphs are notable for their poor quality, so much so that some wonder if it is really Fremont. Some of the forms on here may be Ute. These petroglyphs were created on top of a faded painted panel which I thought was Barrier Canyon but others say is Fremont. The pig in the upper left is, in my opinion, the best drawn figure on this panel.

Painted figures and white concentric circles with bullet damage and graffiti

The figure with the sword is likely Ute and the rest looks like Fremont. Vandals used the concentric circles for target practice but the worst damage is to the face of the swordsman.

Faded outlined figure with Fremont figures painted over it

Rock art on the Colorado Plateau is known for its human-like figures and this one appears to be painted in the Abstract-geometric style, which elsewhere is found only as geometric patterns. Abstract-geometric style is thought to be among the oldest rock art in the area so this may be the oldest anthropomorphic figure at this site.

Row of tall red Barrier Canyon Style figures, some with horns or antennae, on a pale cliff above rocks

The three largest life-sized forms are likely Fremont but others may be Barrier Canyon. Someone appears to have removed part of the panel, note the hole on the left. This panel is in a small cattle pen across the dirt road from the main BCS panel. The gate was once open and you could walk in and look at the art. Now the gate is locked and for a fee you can call and make a reservation to get a tour of what is mostly this panel and the swordsman shown above.

Faint red figure with a large round head and striped body, beside a red handprint

Close by is this painted Fremont(?) panel. The multi-colored figure in the middle might be anthropomorphic but the other items are baffling. Notable is the cross-hatching on the "handle" of the "pot" on the left. The middle figure is about three feet / 1 meter tall.

Faint pecked arch-shaped and shield-like figures on a sunlit sandstone wall

I presume these forms are Fremont. I couldn't get closer because the rock seemed unstable. There are at least three anthropomorphic figures here, one under the left arch.

Faded red figure with a crowned head, wavy lines and a striped band below

This ~6 foot / 2 meter tall imposing Fremont warrior figure is hidden behind a rock.

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