Nine Mile Canyon: The Passage of Time
Have you been to an outdoor museum or stood in the very footsteps of ancient artists? If not, it’s about time that you see the “world’s longest art gallery.” Every year a group of archeologists along with volunteers come together to study the art and narratives of archaic cultures dating back approximately 2000 years.
I learned about Nine Mile Canyon many years ago when I first met, Kevin Jones, a novelist and at the time, an archaeologist for the State of Utah. We found ourselves out in the west desert, on our way to Danger Cave. This trip filled me with more questions than answers.
Three years ago, my husband and I set out on a day trip to Nine Mile Canyon. A 40-mile-long canyon named by early surveyors located in the Tavaputs Plateau in Carbon County, and home to upwards of 10,000 images, painted and chiseled onto the sandstone walls.
We drove further up the road and met up with Jones. I’ve always found Jones to be an interesting man, what I would call a policy shaker of sorts, and his job, is to protect the antiquities that no longer have a voice of their own. He was raised by a National Park Ranger in places like Dinosaur National Monument, California’s Sequoia National Park, and Mount Rainier. He spent over 20 years strumming his mandolin in a bluegrass band called the Lab Dogs.
Sadly, for us in the Salt Lake Valley, Jones went searching for clean air, broke up the band, and moved out of town. He now resides in an off-the-beaten path location where the air is clear, and breathing is easy.
As we stood there in front of the Great Hunt panel - one of the most recognized rock art sites in the state - Jones pointed to petroglyphs and told us to “imagine the artist 1000 years ago striking his chisel, the sound of the stone as it breaks, leaving a mysterious symbol on the wall of the artists studio. You’re right where that person stood.”
That day proved to be one of great adventure as we peered down into pit houses to see into the past. It left me wondering not only what the symbols all meant but how these people lived and survived their day-to-day lives.
Back home, I had the opportunity to visit with Jones and I asked him, why people should visit places like Nine Mile Canyon? Why care? He responded with a crooked grin, shining out through his burley mustache and beard, and explained that “seeing the canyon opens up a world that many people don’t know exists. It is one of the most important sites in North America, maybe even the world, where you can gain insight into another culture.” He went on to tell me that in the world of archaeology, “Utah has the reputation of some of the best ancient rock art in the world and the state is full of artistic expression and cultural treasures gracing our canyon walls.”
I asked, how does one go about defining what it all means? Jones’ response was the simplest answer I could have ever got. He simply said; “Don’t. Don’t try to interpret the art. The key is lost, just enjoy it.”
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