Ancient petroglyphs near Bishop, California, have been vandalized, prompting a call for justice from federal authorities. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is offering a reward of $1,500 for information leading to the identification of those responsible for damaging these historic carvings.
The petroglyphs, located in the 36,000-acre Volcanic Tablelands in Owens Valley, feature images of bighorn sheep, circular designs, and even a depiction of a miner with a pickax. These carvings are not just art; they are a vital part of the cultural heritage of the Paiute-Shoshone Indians, who created them thousands of years ago.
Bishop Field Manager Sherri Lisius expressed deep concern over the destruction. “Those responsible have destroyed an irreplaceable part of our national cultural heritage,” she stated. The BLM has increased surveillance of the area in hopes of preventing further damage and catching the culprits.
The vandalism occurred at three different locations within the petroglyph site, which is protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act. This law imposes severe penalties for such actions, including felony charges, fines up to $20,000, and potential prison time of up to two years for first-time offenders.
Images released by officials show a chipped rock face at one of the ceremonial sites, but specific details about the extent of the damage have not been disclosed yet. The petroglyphs were carved into volcanic tuff formations created over 760,000 years ago, when a massive eruption covered the area with hot ash. The Paiute-Shoshone later chipped away at the red pumice stone to reveal lighter minerals beneath.
This isn’t the first time the site has faced threats. In 2008, California State University, Northridge, settled a case for over $25,000 after drilling holes on federal land without authorization. More recently, in 2021, Caltech paid a similar amount to repair damage caused by faculty and students who drilled into a rock face near the petroglyphs.
The BLM is urging anyone with information about the recent vandalism to contact WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME or report online at www.wetip.com. The hope is to restore respect for these sacred sites and hold those responsible accountable.