National Park Officials Allege 'Vandals' Irreparably Damaged Ancient Petroglyphs

Officials with Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas, said that a panel of ancient petroglyphs was irreparably damaged.

According to a release by the park, the incident took place on December 26. Officials discovered that "vandals" carved their names and the date into the prehistoric art in the Indian Head area of the national park. This is part of a rising trend of increased vandalism and graffiti within the park.

"Since 2015, park archeologists have documented over 50 instances of vandalism to these priceless sites," the release stated.

Thomas VandenBerg, the chief of interpretation and visitor services, told Newsweek that a visitor reported the graffiti to park officials. A team examined the damage was the following day and got to work fixing it.

VandenBerg said that the park's archeology team learned that someone tried to "treat" the graffiti, but the water that was used resulted in extensive water staining and residue that discolored the boulder.

They got to work on appropriately treating the boulder by first using distilled water in a spray bottle with a soft sponge.

"The whitish residue from water staining was resistant to this gently applied treatment and the removal of the water staining required wetting the surface and daubing to absorb the debris loosened by the water soaking," VandenBerg said.

A great deal of the staining was reduced.

While some well-meaning visitors may try to clean up vandalism they come across throughout the park, officials urge them to alert staff instead. Staff members will try to remedy the damage by using specialized techniques.

Although park officials have used these techniques to treat the most recent vandalism at Indian Head, much of the damage is permanent.

Rock art and ancient cultural sites are protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA). Per the United States Department of Agriculture, it was passed in 1979 and amended in 1988.

"It governs the excavation of archeological sites on Federal and Indian lands in the United States, and the removal and disposition of archeological collections from those sites," the website that outlined the policy reads. "The Act aims to secure, for the present and future benefit of the American people, the protection of archaeological resources and sites on Federal and tribal land."

A "fact sheet" published to Big Bend's webpage under the National Park Service noted that there is evidence of nearly 12,000 years of human occupation by Paleo-Indian, archaic peoples, as well as a variety of southwestern tribes. This includes the Chisos, Jumano, Mescalero Apache and Comanche.

The fact sheet also reported that ranchers started to settle into the area around 1870, and by 1900 ranchers, miners and farmers occupied Big Bend.

VandenBerg told Newsweek rock art that can be found throughout the park, but to protect the sensitive sites, their exact locations are not advertised.

"It's more of a discovery experience for visitors," he said.

It is believed the petroglyphs that were vandalized were in a gathering site that may have been the location of several spiritual events throughout the year.

This particular style of rock art, VandenBerg said, is known by experts as "desert abstract," or "pecked abstract tradition." These pieces date back between 8,500 and 4,000 years ago and feature more abstract, geometric shapes, rather than images of humans and animals.

"Big Bend National Park belongs to all of us. Damaging natural features and rock art destroys the very beauty and history that the American people want to protect in our parks," said Big Bend National Park Superintendent Bob Krumenaker. "With each instance of vandalism, part of our nation's heritage is lost forever."

So far, the park received numerous responses regarding the matter, allowing officials to investigate potential leads.

Historic artifacts are often seen as priceless from a cultural perspective.

Newsweek reported that a canoe believed to be 1,200 years old was pulled out of a Wisconsin lake.

Historians said the canoe was likely built by the ancestors of the Ho-Chunk peoples, one of two of the First Nations of Wisconsin.

Updated 01/06/2022, 5:52 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with comments from Thomas VandenBerg and additional information.