From the spring of 1974 to the spring of 1976, I ventured around and over and through the Valley of Fire with my family taking pictures of the Petroglyphs (rock writings/drawings) throughout the area.

Most of the petroglyphs are carved within the confines of the 'desert varnish' black glazing, that covers much of the sun facing rocks. This varnish has a pecular tendency to appear as different colors, depending on the angle of the sun striking the varnish. This can be noted in some of the pictures where the black will appear as a 'blue' varnish.

From history and archelogical information, it is generally agreed and concurred that most of this primitive 'rock art' dates between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago. There are some scholars that date the petroglyphs as much older.

Two of the petroglyphs I find really unusual; a pictograph looking very much like a teradactkyl (supposedly impossible, did not co-exist with man); another that looks very similar to a brontasaurus! The 'Turtle' almost always has been associated with treasure or water.

As is the case in most areas of this nature, there has been much vandalism and defacement of the art, and some of the petroglyphs depicted in these images are no longer existing, or are unrecognizable.

As a young boy, I spent many spring and summer days walking the depths of this park, which at that time was much less restricted for travel and camping than is the case now. It is still one of my favorite 'get away' spots when I long for solitude and the stark beauty of the desert.