Blythe Intaglios

[oregontocal]

Ever since I began staying here, I've wanted to go check out the Intaglios http://www.nuggetwranglers.com/blythe_intaglios.htm

So, today I did. Would love to see them from the air, but for now I was satisfied with a nice walk in the desert.

Three signs pointing the way, the first one is the oldest.




Ever since I first saw stacked rocks in Canada, I've loved finding them. These are quite simple - just a rock or two on each fence post - but I loved them. So, if rocks aren't your thing, please feel free to skip ahead. I added some here and there as there were plenty on the road to choose from.





I added the top ones:



Since Blythe is in the Colorado River Valley (or Palo Verde Valley), lots of water is used for this green farm area.


A couple of mountain views. I first thought the lines on the hill in the second picture might have been intaglios. However, they're off-road vehicle tracks. At least the intaglio area is completely fenced off to vehicles.



The first human figure, which is in a fenced-off area up the hill. A nice walk on a beautiful day.




Second human figure, down the hill. This one isn't as well preserved as the first.



Near the second human figure was a fenced-off area for the animal and coiled figure. However, I had a hard time getting a decent picture as the sun was in the wrong place and the figures weren't very visible.

A fun morning out in the sun.

[BirdbyBird]

Makes you think very hard........

[retiredhappy]

Wow!! I didn't know the US had any of these big figures. The only ones I had heard of were the ones somewhere in south america. I would LOVE to see these. Why are the rocks put on the fence posts? There's a fence near Kerrville that has cowboy boots on each post - the purpose is to protect the posts from rotting.

[AlmostThere]

Those drawings are so fascinating.

So what is the reasoning of stacking rocks on fence posts?

[Sparkle]

Love this post. This is just the kind of thing Beth and I love to find. Don't know about rocks on posts, but did you know the origin of Cairns is that in Scotland as men went off to battle, they picked up a stone and everybody made a pile of them. When they returned safely, they took a stone away from the pile. What was left showed how many men had died.

[Bethers]

Many of the Indians have done stacks of stones, also. Or cairns at Sparkle says. When I see a stack and can add one, I do.

Neat place, would like to see them also. Great pictures.

[oregontocal]

Okay. I just replied with some pictures and the message must have ended up in cyber-space or something,. So, I'll try again.

Jean, that's really interesting about the cairns. I'd never heard of that.

In Canada, people stacked rocks on the beach as kind of a spiritual exercise. It takes lots of precision and concentration to stack them very high. I saw them all over the beach. Since then, I see them everywhere, including the desert and these on the beach at Cardiff-by-the-Sea near San Diego.

[avalen]

how interesting, I didn't know that, any of it, Intaglios, cairns, rock stacking....
what a great post, thank you

[oregontocal]

Makes you think very hard........

That it does.

[snowball]

For those that don't know we spend the winter in Quartzsite about 20 from where Chris is at and planning on visiting her this winter...but the first winter we were there my bil and sil came out and that was one of the areas we went to....but we didn't see the signs looking for them so hard that we didn't find them and think we ended up there on that road that you pointed out in car a good car took us were ever we wanted to go and then some!!! its a scary road...in a car...
and it does make one wonder and think wow and why?
sheila

[oregontocal]

For those that don't know we spend the winter in Quartzsite about 20 from where Chris is at and planning on visiting her this winter...but the first winter we were there my bil and sil came out and that was one of the areas we went to....but we didn't see the signs looking for them so hard that we didn't find them and think we ended up there on that road that you pointed out in car a good car took us were ever we wanted to go and then some!!! its a scary road...in a car...
and it does make one wonder and think wow and why?
sheila

I'm wondering if you might have been on a different road, especially if you couldn't find the signs. The road up is mostly gravel, but it's wide and well-graded with numerous parking areas. I would have had no problem in my MH.

BTW, when would you like to get together? My time is pretty much unlimited until the middle of next month and I'd love to see you.

[Nasoosie]

Now that's a site I would definitely love to see.

Up here in the Adirondacks, and all over new England, rock cairns are used to mark trails over mountainous terrain. I assume they are probably used world-wide to mark trails.

Thanks for the great pics!

[oregontocal]

Now that's a site I would definitely love to see.

Up here in the Adirondacks, and all over new England, rock cairns are used to mark trails over mountainous terrain. I assume they are probably used world-wide to mark trails.

Thanks for the great pics!

Yep, they call them "ducks" up in the mountains of Northern California.

[bluepinecones]

What an interesting post. Thank you.

[snowball]

We aren't sure when we will make it to Q yet it will depend upon how quickly Larry rebounds after his Brachytheropy next week. How long are you going to be in Blythe? As we returned from the road good only for other cars...we found them really easy we were on the right road just don't think we started looking fast enough....
There are a couple of veggies stands you will have to check out one is north on the road that takes you to Parker then West follow the sign and the other one same road but go south then west again signs out not sure how far but both of them are really good
sheila