Legend Rock Petroglyphs Wyoming
Dinwoody (8000 BCE–1000 CE) to En-Toto Pecked to historic·Plains Archaic Dinwoody / Shoshone·🇺🇸 Wyoming, Hot Springs County, Cottonwood Creek, Legend Rock, near Thermopolis, United States
About
About Legend Rock Petroglyphs Wyoming
Thermopolis Legend Rock state park, Dinwoody style intermontane archaic unique to Wyoming. Recorded context — Period: Dinwoody (8000 BCE–1000 CE) to En-Toto Pecked to historic; Culture: Plains Archaic Dinwoody / Shoshone; Field status: partially excavated; Materials: sandstone; Condition: preserved — state site.
Why it mattersKey Plains Archaic Dinwoody / Shoshone rock-art with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of enclosure
- 02Construction labor organization
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
- 02Defensive stronghold
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 8000 BCE Dinwoody earliest; En-Toto 2000 BCE
- Period
- Dinwoody (8000 BCE–1000 CE) to En-Toto Pecked to historic
- Culture
- Plains Archaic Dinwoody / Shoshone
- Purpose
- 92 panels over 800 m sandstone cliff — Dinwoody ghosts and Shoshone post-contact horses overlapping
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1962
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 8000 BCE Dinwoody earliest; En-Toto 2000 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Legend Rock Petroglyphs Wyoming
c. 1200 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Legend Rock Petroglyphs Wyoming
On the ground
Structures & features
43.7080° N · 108.3400° W · 1350 m · 3 mapped features
- Legend Rock Petroglyphs Wyoming — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Legend Rock Petroglyphs Wyoming — subsidiary complex43.7066° N · 108.3409° W
- Legend Rock Petroglyphs Wyoming — Northern Complexcomplexcomplex at Legend Rock Petroglyphs Wyoming — subsidiary complex43.7085° N · 108.3414° W
- Legend Rock Petroglyphs Wyoming — Southern Rock Artrock artrock art at Legend Rock Petroglyphs Wyoming — subsidiary complex43.7099° N · 108.3386° W
Gallery