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Petroglyphs Sun Writing Of The Gods: Cosmological Orientation Of Fremont Indian Rock Art

Petroglyphs Sun Writing Of The Gods: Cosmological Orientation Of Fremont Indian Rock Art

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Clear Creek Canyon is a three-mile-long desert ravine located in south-central Utah in the United States. A small stream runs down its center, running along an interstate highway and flowing by a large hill that stands like a sentinel near the west end. The hill is significant as it is the location of the largest Fremont Indian settlement ever discovered and a treasure of petroglyphs. The hill and canyon became a heritage site and Fremont Indian State Park was established in 1987 to commemorate the find.

Clear Creek Canyon, Panorama, taken from an opposing bluff. (Photo © John Lundwall)

Clear Creek Canyon, Panorama, taken from an opposing bluff. (Photo © John Lundwall)

The Fremont Indians were a Native American culture group occupying the mountains and deserts of what is now known as Utah from between 300 to 1300 AD. They left behind no writing, but numerous artifacts have been discovered, including pottery, metates, pipes, moccasins, tools, and arrowheads. Significantly, the Fremont also left behind tens of thousands of petroglyphs---images carved in stone depicting a variety of motifs, including deer, sheep, birds, plants, corn, geometric shapes, and a large variety of humanoid forms. 

A humanoid figure holds a ceremonial staff and basket in the upper left, while stylized sheep are framed by a pair of spirals; Fremont Indian State Park. (Photo © John Lundwall)

A humanoid figure holds a ceremonial staff and basket in the upper left, while stylized sheep are framed by a pair of spirals; Fremont Indian State Park. (Photo © John Lundwall)

The humanoid figures are called anthropomorphs, and the Fremont had a unique style when carving these images. Fremont anthropomorphs have trapezoidal bodies, with wide shoulders and narrower waists. Many of the figures appear to be deities, as they are depicted with divine headdresses or unique, symbolic motifs.

Located high up on a cliff face, the three squares in the center of the image have been interpreted as the three worlds of Fremont cosmology (underworld, material world, and upper world); Fremont Indian State Park. (Photo © John Lundwall)

Located high up on a cliff face, the three squares in the center of the image have been interpreted as the three worlds of Fremont cosmology (underworld, material world, and upper world); Fremont Indian State Park. (Photo © John Lundwall)

There are over 3,600 petroglyphs in Clear Creek Canyon. One in particular caught the attention of Dr. John Lundwall, who in May of 2017 was running a star party for the Park as part of its dark sky’s initiative. Star watching has become a favorite past time for visitors, and dark skies are a treasured natural resource of this landscape. Utah has more dark sky sites registered with the International Dark Skies Association (IDA) than anywhere else in the world.

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John Lundwall holds a doctorate in comparative myth and religion from the Joseph Campbell school of myth studies, Pacifica Graduate Institute. He is a founding board member of the Utah Valley Astronomy Club investigating the cultural astronomy of the ancient Fremont Indian, a Native American culture group associated with the American Southwest that inhabited the land of present-day Utah between 300 and 1300 AD.

John McHugh earned a Master’s degree from Brigham Young University with a dual emphasis on Near Eastern and Native American Archaeology. He specializes in Near Eastern and Native American archaeoastronomy as well as American Indian rock art. He serves on the Board at the Utah Rock Art Research Association. His current book, The Celestial Code of Scriptures (Monkfish Publishing), will appear in Autumn, 2021.

Top Image: The Rochester Panel is a mythological tableau, depicting people, deities, strange creatures, birds, and other symbolic forms; Emery, Utah. Photo by John Lundwall

By John Knight Lundwall, and John McHugh

 

Comments

Hi All,

Learning something New is beginning to sound more like an adventure of a sort and this is the closest I can come to make an comparison.

I hadn't heard of The Fremont Indigenous Tribe in Utah. Are they still around are did early interactions with Europeans subsequently wipe them out?

There's another interest within this article; that caught my eye which was the reference to the Humanoid figures etched in the Petroglyphs where we get Sun Writing of the gods originate.

I'm just going to share this and leave it be...

According to Enoch 1 The Book of Watchers (Enoch was once in The Bible but, then was removed from the Sacred Book Man's decision), The Creator addressed 200 Fallen Angel's apart of a Sub-group The Watchers for Behaving as though They Were God.

So to learn that these Petroglyphs in Utah carved by the Fremont Indigenous Tribe depict Solar deities with Headdress for me that is confirms Enoch 1 about the Watcher Angel's. Too the human eye studying those figures are gods.

Since reading Enoch most intriguing I've noticed many articles shared on Ancient Origins regarding diverse Subject's pertaining to Ancient gods seemingly confirming much of Bible Book's Enoch & Jubilees.

All in all this is an exciting update of what our Ancient Ancestors that left notes for us to get a picture of what the World was like in those Ancient Day's. An with that until next time, Everyone, Goodbye!

I love visiting fremont sites, there is a guy on you tube that does fremont petroglyphs and moon phases, etc.  he is good, great article.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVfYlfkYiG3QCfvMF6QPhMA

 

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