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Show 2A Tuesday, April 25, 1995 Emery County Progress COUNTRY LIVING Buckhom Panel stirs the imagination Editor's note: Following is the second of a article submitted by Meghan Nuttall Sayres ofV alley ford. Wash. Her report this week focuses on the Buckhorn Panel. She was recently accompanied to the site by Reed Martin of Castle Dale. rt By Meghan Nuttall Sayres Guest writer Nine yeas ago Reed Martin and his "Willys" left their first treads at the Buckhorn panel. Twenty-tw- o ofthe first 200,000 miles the two would make together among the petroglyphs, natural bridges, volcanic basalt, and alkali of the San Rafael Swell. "The land and the rock art gets into your blood" Reed explained. We rounded a bend lined with mustard yellow rabbitbrush, a native paint which is a source for yellow dye, a d weed that months from now would turn the color of wheat and tumble aimlessly in the Swell. Reed cut the engine and we stared at the Buckhom panel in awe. This man, whose spirit is half his age and centered in the desert, jumped out the Willys and paced about the gravel parking lot as if he were measuring distance. No doubt he envisioned what this sitewould look like a year from now when the architectural conservation would be complete. A bench here. Interpretive signs and kiosk. A sandstone and wood split-ra- il fence. And over there, a larger parking lot... flame-colore- pic-togra- ph I stood silent before this magnificent work of pictographs and petroglyphs. All my senses at work. Vivid images of mystical beings almost eight feet tall and painted with natural pigments in yellow, reds, black, and browns grace a panel which spans more than 100 feet long. I imagined the forgotten artists who painted these angelic images about 400 years ago in this natural gallery of sandstone, juniper and sky... In the pink morning light the youngwarrior unraveled a hide pouch laced with leather straps. A ceremonial knife, a bone whistle, a flint tool, a chunk of gypsum, and a satchel of red clay from the river and spilled onto the smooth sandstone beneath his feet. The warrior mashed the gypsum intoa white powder in a depression on the rock. He squeezed oil from a nearby yucca onto the gypsum and stirred it. Then he added oil to the red clay. He picked up his sharp flint tool and began to etch a figure onto the vertical rock face before him. "Scritch, scritch, scritch." His fingers worked in quick, deliberate strokes. Soon a tall figure appeared with arms that looked like wings. The young warrior dipped his brush of porcupine quills into the liquid gypsum and painted his figure white. A breeze rustled and. the feathers twisted into the warrior's rabbitskinwrap. The sun shone directly overhead and warmed him as he worked. "Peck, peck, ou The family of Stanley Cowley wishes to thank the many people for their acts of kindness and love, and for the sympathy shown at the time of the passing of our husband and father. Thanks to all those who helped with the service. A special thanks to the Huntington Glee Club and Huntington 4th Ward Relief Society for the luncheon after the services. SI ffotrtSy " peck, a serpent appeared with a coiled tail and the head of a coyote. He painted it red with the clay pigment from the river bank. The sun disappeared behind the rock pillars casting out boldly against his sandstone canvas. And he smiled... "Bullet holes!" I said aloud "What a tragedy." The panel, riveted with bullet holes, boldly defaced with black painted names, scraped and scarred with graffiti is a victim of the vandals who for the last 100 years have travelled down this wash, once part of the old Santa Fe Trail. It is one of the most badly vandalized rock art sites in the country, and one ofthe most dear to Reed Martin and the citizens of Emery County, Utah. When the Utah Centennial Commission of Emery County gathered in 1993 to make plans for their "Lasting Legacy" project in conjunction with the Utah 1996 Centennial, the rock art panel in Buckhom Wash became the topic of discussion. Why not restore the panel? "The community knew I was interested in rock art," Reed said, "so they asked me if I'd head up the committee." It became clear to me after a visit with Reed Martin and his wife Deon and their grandson Tyler, that Reed's interest in rock art was not a mere interest. It is a passion. At least 10 reproductions of rock art panels made by Reed hang on the walls of his living room, entry way, and office. Photos of the Willys, family and friends at obscure rock art sites in southern Utah remind him of why he moved to CastleDale. Homemade casts of dinosaur foot prints, hand carved flutes of bamboo and cedar bark, and a clock crafted with hides and painted with pigments the same colors as those of the pictographs he has visited attest to Reed's love ofhis desert country. They are testament to a man who's life is colored and family San Rafael Bulldogs STUDENTS OF THE WEEK Sheridan Swasey, Brandon Lake, Danielle Brown and Nolan Behunin have been chosen as San Rafael Junior High School's students of the week. Sheridan, 14, is the son of Dixie and Russell Swasey of Ferron. His favorite subject at school is English. Sheridan is helpful and friendly. In his spare time he likes to work around the house and build models. He built a willow chair in one of his classes. He likes camping and helping his dad do Dutch oven cooking. He likes to travel and has been across the US twice with his g dad. His goals are to go to college and get a good job. Somedayhewants to travel around the world. truck-drivin- shaped by the earth itself. No, Emery County could not have asked a better man for the job. Since the committee's initial meeting, Reed and others have addressed several government agencies and interested organizations: The Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Historic Preservation Office, Utah State Archeologist, Utah and American Rock Art Societies, Emery County Commission and local businesses. "It is a unique opportunity for federal, state, county government, along with local interested parties, to demonstrate that they can work together toward a common goal," the committee reports. The committee has organized picnics, parades, and booths at local fairs in a campaign to raise public awareness of the Buckhorn project The events also serve as for the architectural restoration fund-raise- Brandon, 15, is the son of Derrell and Teresa Lake of Castle Dale. He plays the French horn in band, and his favorite subjects are English and history. Brandon is easygoing, friendly and helpful. In his spare time he likes to go fishing, go hunting, and play basketball. He likes to work in the shop with his dad. He has completed the requirements for the Eagle Scout award. His goals are to get a good job, go to college, and go on a mission. Someday he would like to go white water rafting. Unlike the Sego Cany on panel which Silver recently restored, the Buckhom Wash presents its own unique problems. "The rock is much softer than at the Sego Canyon site. Finding a tool which is tough enough to lift the graffiti but soft enough not to damage the painted sandstone isn't going to be easy," Silver explained. Over the next few months. The restoration is scheduled to begin this spring and estimated to take up to six weeks. My quest was to learn about rock art restoration but what came to light this particular weekend in the San Rafael Swell was that the Buckhom Wash project has a life of its own. And the community of Castle Dale is its pulse. It is truly an affair of the heart. Virginia and Gene Talbot, volunteer staff members ofThe Museum ofthe San Rafael, are representative of the citizens of Castle Dale who take pride in their community and are committed to the restoration project. "Dixon Peacock, our museum curator, envisions the museum as a central educational center and exhibitor of rock art in the state," Virginia said as she pointed to a two by seven foot reproduction of the Buckhom Wash pictograph panel which hangs in the entry of the museum "We've commissioned Cliff Oviatt of Huntington to make a 'before' and 'after' miniature of the Buckhom panel. It will be used in our public education program. We hope to raise awareness of the importance of protecting natural history sites as a resource for the future." ,The exhibits at the Museum of the San Rafael reflect the sense of community shared by the citizens ofCastle Dale. "We purchase very little for the museum. Most of the artifacts, bone, and rock collections have been donated. Our neighbors opened up their closets!" Virginia's collection of over 200 different colored polished dinosaur bones are among them. "You're looking at over 30 years of Virginia's life in this glass case!" Gene said. Other museum exhibits include: three e dinosaur replicas, authentic dinosaur bones and two rare plant species of the order Cycadales, which existed in the Jurassic period when the dinosaur roamed the San Rafael. Two wildlife displays by local taxidermists capture the natural world of the desert and the life-siz- high country surrounding Castle Dale. Among their artifact displays is an atlatl, a hunting weapon which predates the bow and arrow. Dixon Peacock found this in a cave. "It appears to have been made for a child. "Afier Spending The Whole Winter Staring At The Same I Could Use Danielle, 14, is the daughter of Vance and Bobby Brown of Ferron. She plays the trumpet in band, and she is in the Readers Club. Her favorite subject is English. Danielle is friendly. She likes to ride horses and do gymnastics. Her goal is to go to college. Someday she would like to be apolice woman. rs of the site and to contract Constance Silver, an art conservator, to clean up the graffiti on the panel. The project is in need of about $8,000. Four Walls, A Change Of Scenery. Writer Meghan Sayres joins "desert rat" Reed Martin at the Buckhorn Panel on the San Rafael Swell. Historians from four universiimagination takes me several ties have carbon dated it and thousand years from now... believe it to be three to four An archeologist and paleonthousand years old. What's tologist are at work. They amazing it that it implies that stumble upon a strange fossilpeople back then valued edu ized rock with a pattern on it eating their young or that play that looks remarkably like the was an important aspect of tread of a tire. Weeks of pains- their lives." The Museum of taking work with little brushes the San Rafael also appreciunearths a full intact fossilates these values and has creized Willys with Reed behind ated a "hands on" children's the wheel. display complete with pelts, "Hey, this is the guy we read magnifying lenses, charts, and fossils. The community ofCastle Dale treated Laurie, Mercedes and me kindly. They opened up their museum for us after hours. They opened up their homes and vehicles. Even the people atTheVillagelnn where I left my favorite leather shoes promised to send them to me. Footprints through time, so to speak, which I am sure will arrive in the mail any day now... In the meantime, while I tread barefoot in the cold rain of the Inland Northwest, I dream about the desert- - "It gets into your blood, you know. " And my Zions Bank and its employ- ees donated $340 to the United Way of Carbon and Emery counties during the company's recent United Way fund raising campaign. "Zions is proud to support United Way and to give our employees this opportunity to donate because the various agencies that receive funding through United Way benefit all of us by making our community a better place to live," said Zions Bancorporation President and CEO Harris Simmons. Zions employes make through a voluntary payroll deduction plan. Zions Bank is a subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation, bank holding company with asserts of $5 billion, operating 117 offices in Utah, Arizona full-servi- and Nevada. American Heart Association SALE: $16.95 SALE: $9.95 m s Nolan, 14, is the son of Nolan and Teresa Behunin of Ferron. He is in the Art Club, and his favorite subject is art. Nolan is easygoing, and in his spare time he likes to ride motor- v and t A J cycle? play basketball. His goal is to finish his truck. Someday he would like to go to Lagoon. Sponsored by Castle Dale City and Ferron City Be a Charter Member of WEATHER-KIN- OUR FINEST LATEX HOUSE 4 TRIM PANT Using Aoytc Mi cdornMon QjfckaKcafcn.Qjfck dean up OmuMu oofera LATEX Superior SALE: Castle Country Garden Club EXTERIOR PANT WEATHER KING Long Areyou InttresW In Roses, Orchids, Bonsai, Perennial Bortere, Vegetable Gardens, English Cottage Gardens? All interested experienced or novice gardeners are Invited to join. HOUSE PAINT $19.95 SALE: $19.95 Magnuson hardware 49$ E. Mein, Ctttl Dele You Bring The Problem. con- tributions to United Way Does Your Heart Good. LATEX SEMI GLOSS ENAMEL FtyNnirrtnln Willys !' See the rW' here on the horn? Wasn't his name Martin? How about we name this The Martin Willys Formation." "WAHOOGA WAHOOGA" "Did you hear that? The horn still works!" Anyone who wishes to "Give a Buck to the Buckhom" andhelp restore the Buckhom Picto- gTaph Panel may send donations to the Emery County Centennial Committee, Care of the Buckhom Wash Restoration Project, P.O. Box 1207, Castle Dale, Utah 84513. My check's in the mail,.. Bank employees donate to fund Spring Paint Sale CROWN COAT watt dwnif Soap EaqrtoaatfyLmodot about in the Museum of the San Rafael. The one who insisted he be buried in the Ole 4 Well Bring The Pant. m For more Information Call Joane at 7 637-017- Wednesday April 26, 1995, 7:00 p.m. Commission Chambers, Old Courthouse, Price ce |