If you have any information about the vandals who defaced a Native American petroglyph site near Moab, Utah, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) wants to hear from you.
On March 22, the GCSO posted to Facebook seeking information that would help them track down the people responsible for etching into a Native American cultural heritage site northeast of town. The petroglyph site is near Tusher Tunnel, northwest of town, which is known to contain extensive ancient rock art.
“It appears a Baja race team may have defaced the site by advertising contact information directly on the rock wall,” GCSO wrote. “This type of damage to cultural and historical resources is taken seriously and is under investigation.”
The vandals etched “646,” “Baja Toys,” “ATV,” and other words into the rock. If you have any information that could aid in the investigation, the GCSO requests that you call them at 435-259-8115.
“Your help in protecting these irreplaceable resources is appreciated,” the sheriff’s office said.
Ancient Art Vandals: Sadly Not Uncommon
This type of crime happens relatively frequently in Utah and other areas with ancient rock art.
In 2024, a group of climbers drilled a bolt into a cliff face near a protected petroglyph. In 2021, visitors to Big Bend National Park defaced an Archaic Period petroglyph panel by scratching the names “Isaac, Ariel, Adrian, and Norma” across it.
Also in 2021, vandals badly defaced the famous Moab Birthing Rock, which displayed 2,000-year-old rock art. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
While many Native American petroglyphs have survived hundreds — sometimes thousands — of years, their greatest threat today is people. Sadly, this type of vandalism is not uncommon, and the cultural and historical resources destroyed by it are irreplaceable.
That’s why the punishments for such acts are steep. First-time offenders can face fines of up to $10,000 and 1 year in prison. If the vandalized site is valued at more than $500, penalties can double to $20,000 and 2 years in prison.
Call the GCSO if you have any information about the most recent vandalism case.
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