BLACK MOUNTAIN COMPLEX PETROGLYPHS

Lost Site

 

The graphic below, left, provides insight into the location of Lost Site relevant to the entire complex, as indicated by the small yellow arrow left, center of the graphic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The graphic to the right is an expanded view of the Lost Site area showing the position of Murphy’s well, which is no more than a minor spring that only produces enough water to keep the immediate area, just under the “s”, green during the summer months. The well’s proximity to the chokepoint at Lost Site suggests that seep-holes dug into the ground may have provided water for the defenders at Lost Site prior to the battle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the left photo, the chokepoint at Lost Site was created by the black basalt rock formations just to the left and right sides of the off-highway (OHV) vehicle trail. The right photo is a view of the left side rock formation, which has been a monument for an estimated five thousand years. The photo below displays the largest glyph cluster on the monument:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As suggested above, there were two fronts to the battle. The main attack is referred to as the Harper Dry Lake or Southwestern Front; the Rear Guard defensive position is referred to as Murphy’s Well or Northeastern Front. The graphics below demonstrate these fronts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

        Harper Dry Lake/ Southwestern Front               Murphy’s Well/Northeastern Front

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                      

                                                             Consolidated Battlefield

The graphic on the top left displays the main attack route. The graphic on the top right displays the route taken by the defenders when they consolidated with the remaining forces relocating from the Black Canyon position. The bottom graphic assimilates the two combined routes taken by the defenders as they fought. The right “leg” of the configuration demonstrates how effective the Rear Guard was in keeping the “escape” route open for the defenders at Black Canyon who were engaged with attempting to repel the main attack. The words leg and escape are in parentheses, because of their alternate/metaphoric interpretations; the “leg” of an anthropometric figure and “escape” to suggest a military tactic for drawing an enemy into an ambush, which actually occurred at Tortoise Head Gap.

 

Hinkley Gate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This glyph marks Hinkley Gate; it was shot up by hunters in 2013