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Walking through the Parowan Gap Petroglyphs in southwestern Utah reveals ancient rock carvings that tell stories of migration, astronomical knowledge, and the spiritual beliefs of Native American peoples who inhabited this area centuries ago.
• Located near St. George and Cedar City, the gap is an ancient dried riverbed cutting through solid rock
• The Paiute people call the creators of these symbols the "Winoos" - their ancestors who were the first settlers
• One significant panel depicts migration from an "old world" to a "new world," showing hardships like famine, drought, water crossings, and extreme weather
• Petroglyphs show a leader who died upon reaching the new land, depicted with an arrow in his head and shown upside-down
• Archaeoastronomer Noel and archaeologist V. Garth Norman revealed these carvings track celestial movements with remarkable precision
• The site aligns with solstice events, with the sun appearing directly in the gap on the summer solstice
• Different techniques were used to create petroglyphs: pecking (striking with tools), incising (cutting), and abrading (rubbing)
• The site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969
• Mormon pioneers led by Parley Pratt made contact with Ute leader Chief Wakara, who called this area "God's own house"
• These petroglyphs demonstrate how ancient peoples maintained intimate connections with the natural world
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