To reach the Sego Rock Art Panels (also known as the Thomspson Wash Site) take the Interstate 70 Exit 185 to Thompson Springs and head north through the small town on a paved road. You will enter Thompson Canyon in the Book Cliffs. Follow the signs to Sego Canyon toward the ghost town of Sego. The pavement ends and turns into a dirt road near a large parking area on the left side at GPS coordinates 39 01.070N; 109 42.613W, at an elevation of 5,537 feet. There is a modern vault toilet there, but no drinking water. The Historic Panel and the Fremont/Anasazi Panel are readily visible from the parking area. There are descriptive signs to explain the site.
This is one of the more amazing sites that we've visited, in that there are so many representations of these major cultural groups on distinct panels, as well as some crossover. It is also an interesting site because of the number of pictographs and petroglyphs scattered around the area.
Unfortunately, probably due to the proximity of the ghost town of Sego and the numbers of people who must have passed these displays over the years, there is a great deal of modern graffiti. That is a real shame, because some wonderful examples of ancient art work have been damaged. There has been some restoration work completed on the main panels, but the surfaces across the road, near the corral, do not look as if they have been retouched.
Across the road from the main three panels there is a small corral, with a good sized outcrop behind it. There are examples of all three styles, as well as modern graffiti, scattered across this surface. Some quite impressive.
We also did see several petroglyphs that have red paint covering them, similar to that used on some of the red images. This would indicate that the paint is younger than the pecked images. This type of red paint also appears to be different than that used on the Barrier Canyon images and it makes me wonder if perhaps this type of red is part of the much younger Historic Ute tradition. Not being an expert, I just don't know. But for the sake of this discussion, I've placed these pictographs among the Barrier Canyon Style until I get further evidence to the contrary.
For more information on how to preserve and protect these priceless historic treasures:
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