Los Angeles, 26 November 2012
Artdaily informs that archaeologists offer a $1,000 reward for anyone possessing information susceptible to help the arrest of vandals who robbed and damaged ancient rock carvings made by Native Americans located in the California desert.
It appears the robbers vandalised an “irreplaceable part of our national cultural heritage”, as claim the authorities. That is even more striking when we realise that this rocks that had outlived bad weather conditions for ages ended up being hauled off within just a few hours.
Surveillance was increased and everything is being attempted in order to find the responsible parties and bring them before the court. Finding the petroglyphs, engraved 3,500 years ago, is a priority for archaeologists. This carved rocks are integral part of the history and heritage of American Indians. They are located on the sacred territory of the Paiute-Shoshone tribe, known as Volcanic Tableland, etched with circles, deers, snakes and hunters with bows and arrows.
Considering this situation archaeologists, such as David Whitle, who helped the site being enlisted on the National Register of Historic Places, ask: Do we have to keep them in hiding so that no one vandalises them? Or do we leave them open for the public? Unfortunately these amazing cultural and historic treasures are very vulnerable.