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 Chainsaw
   
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: Underground, Colorado
Gender: Male
 |  |  | Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
< on 6/25/2004 8:35 PM >
|  | | | http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040625_559.html
Kinda cool - I wish I had such a property with such a treasure. I would probably keep it to myself as long as I could as well.
SALT LAKE CITY June 25, 2004 — For more than 50 years, rancher Waldo Wilcox kept most outsiders off his land and the secret under wraps: a string of ancient Indian settlements so remarkably well-preserved that arrowheads and beads are still lying out in the open.
Archaeologists are calling it one of the most spectacular finds in the West.
Hidden deep inside Utah's nearly inaccessible Book Cliffs region, 130 miles from Salt Lake City, the prehistoric villages run for 12 miles and include hundreds of rock art panels, cliffside granaries, stone houses built halfway underground, rock shelters, and the mummified remains of long-ago inhabitants.
The site was occupied for at least 3,000 years until it abandoned more than 1,000 years ago, when the Fremont people mysteriously vanished.
What sets this ancient site apart from other, better-known ones in Utah, Arizona or Colorado is that it has been left virtually untouched by looters, with the ground still littered with arrowheads, arrow shafts, beads and pottery shards in places.
"It was just like walking into a different world," said Utah state archaeologist Kevin Jones, who was overcome on his first visit in 2002.
Wilcox, 74, said: "It's like being the first white man in there, the way I kept it. There's no place like it left."
The secret is only now coming to light, after the federal and state governments paid Wilcox $2.5 million for the 4,200-acre ranch, which is surrounded by wilderness study lands. The state took ownership earlier this year but has not decided yet how to control public access.
"It's a national treasure. There may not be another place like it in the continental 48 states," Duncan Metcalfe, a curator with the Utah Museum of Natural History, said Thursday by satellite phone from the site.
Metcalfe said a team of researchers has documented about 200 pristine sites occupied as many as 4,500 years ago, "and we've only looked in a few places."
Wilcox said some skeletons have been exposed by shifting winds under dry ledges. "They were little people, the ones I've seen dug up. They were wrapped like Egyptians, in strips of beaver skin and cedar board, preserved as perfect," he said.
The Fremont, a collection of hunter-gatherers and farmers, preceded more modern American Indian tribes on the Colorado Plateau.
Archaeologists believe the sites may have been first occupied as much as 7,000 years ago; they could shed light on the earliest inhabitants of North America, who are believed to have arrived by way of the Bering Strait about 10,000 years ago.
The settlements are along the Range Creek, which sustained ancient people in the canyon until it possibly dried up in a drought, Wilcox said.
These days, the creek runs year-round, abundant with trout and shaded by cottonwood and box elder trees. Douglas fir covers the canyon sides. The canyon would have been rich in wildlife: elk, deer, bighorn sheep, bear, mountain lions, wild turkeys all animals that Wilcox said are still around, but in lesser numbers because of hunters.
"I didn't let people go in there to destroy it," said Wilcox, whose parents bought the ranch in 1951 and threw up a gate to the rugged canyon. "The less people know about this, the better."
Over the years, Wilcox occasionally welcomed archaeologists to inspect part of the canyon, "but we'd watch 'em." When one Kent State researcher used a pick ax to take a pigment sample from a pictograph, Wilcox "took the pick from him and took him out of the gate."
Although the University of Utah hired a seasonal caretaker and students from three Utah schools are working the sites this summer, Wilcox worries about looting.
He said he gave up the land on a promise of protection from the San Francisco-based Trust for Public Land, which transferred the ranch to public ownership.
The promise barely assured Wilcox, but he said he knew one thing: "I'm getting old and couldn't take care of it." He said he asked $4 million for the ranch but settled for $2.5 million, moved to Green River and retired.
It was not until 2002 that archaeologists realized the full significance of Range Creek.
While many structures are still standing or visible, others could be buried. Archaeologists have not done any excavations yet, simply because "we have too big a task just to document" sites in plain view, Jones said.
After The Associated Press started inquiring, Metcalfe decided to hasten an announcement.
Next week, he plans to take news organizations to the ranch, which is 30 miles off the nearest paved highway over rough, mountainous terrain. A gate inside Range Creek canyon blocks access; from there a dirt road continues about 14 miles down the canyon to a ranch house, now a hub of archaeological activity.
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[last edit 6/25/2004 8:36 PM by Chainsaw - edited 3 times]
Quid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
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The Hitman's Daughter
 
Account Closed
Location: ottawa, canada
Gender: Female
hot pavement.
| | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 2 on 6/25/2004 10:20 PM >
| | | | That. Fucking. Kicks. Ass. 
I hope they don't disrupt it too much. Which they probably will. *sigh*
I feel like watching Dances With Wolves now.
richellesart.com
From now on and until the end of time, "Hip To Be Square" will conjure images of bloody bodies being hacked apart with axes.
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xrahy
Noble Donor
| | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 3 on 6/25/2004 11:44 PM >
| | | | That is probably the coolest thing I've heard. Ever.
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HolyJesusILoveCreed
Member has passed away. Account closed out of respect.
Location: MN
Gender: Male
"So-called Urban Explorer"
| |  |  | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 4 on 6/26/2004 1:39 AM >
| | | | wow, that is truely amazing, I wonder how much the farmer knew about, or if he even realized the historical value of what was on his property
on a side note, I love how we are told in grade school that Columbus discovered America, I mean he was probably the first european that documented finding the west(the bahamas anyway, not even American mainland), if Im not mistaken the Vikings and Icelanders came before he did, and he didnt discover it, it was already inhabited by native americans.....what a crock, eh? sorry, I'll stop rambling now
Now that I have found someone
I'm feeling more alone
Than I ever have before |
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Freak
Location: Usually Alaska, now MSP.
Gender: Male
Hypocrite
| | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 5 on 6/26/2004 2:00 AM >
| | | | News reporters: "Hey! here's a treasure-trove of artifacts that would be worth thousands to grave robbers and looters, lets tell everyone where it is!"
Turn off the internet and go play outside.
http://spamusement...hp/comics/view/137 |
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PAWolf
Not from Pennsylvania
Location: KCMO
Gender: Male
We haven't located us yet.
| |  | | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 6 on 6/26/2004 2:32 AM >
| | | | Posted by D Wrex
wow, that is truely amazing, I wonder how much the farmer knew about, or if he even realized the historical value of what was on his property
on a side note, I love how we are told in grade school that Columbus discovered America, I mean he was probably the first european that documented finding the west(the bahamas anyway, not even American mainland), if Im not mistaken the Vikings and Icelanders came before he did, and he didnt discover it, it was already inhabited by native americans.....what a crock, eh? sorry, I'll stop rambling now
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I'm betting he did know the historical value, that's why he didn't want anyone in there. The problem with archaeologists is that they want to take everything significant and leave everything that isn't. So what you get is a site missing all of the very fine artifacts but that still has thousands of un documented arrowhead, pottery shards, and remains. It's very frustrating but understandable as most researchers are so limited on manpower and time.
Make Beer, Not War. |
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autowitch
Location: Colorado/New Mexico
Hey! Where did all the explorers go?
| | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 7 on 6/26/2004 3:22 AM >
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I'm betting he did know the historical value, that's why he didn't want anyone in there. The problem with archaeologists is that they want to take everything significant and leave everything that isn't.
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(Yay! Something I know a bit about.)
That's pretty close to where I grew up (I was a bit north of the bookcliffs and a bit east of this rancher) and I would be very surpised if he did not know the historical value of the site (the ranchers are very protective of their land in the first place, but even more so if there is something interesting on it). Fremont ruins and rock art are all over that country - everyone up there knows about them, but you have to be pretty seriously trusted for anyone to tell you about them.
The ruins here are not like the Anasazi ruins a bit south (ie. Mesa Verde), these tend to be smaller 1 or 2 room buildings located at the tops of ridges. The ruins tend to in really exposed places, so finding ones that are in good shape is unusual, and that's one of the things that makes this canyon pretty cool.
The Fremont liked to write on the walls, so there are petroglyphs and pictographs on just about every rock you find 
There's also some sites that are supposed to serve as calendars. Or at least, that's what I was told - they were in pretty bad shape.
I have some pictures of one of the more spectacular ruins, I'll see if I can find them.
--autowitch
Hey, where did all the explorers go? |
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tnarduzzi
Location: Nevernever, LD, Canada
Gender: Male
| | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 8 on 6/26/2004 4:00 AM >
| | | | Posted by Freak
News reporters: "Hey! here's a treasure-trove of artifacts that would be worth thousands to grave robbers and looters, lets tell everyone where it is!"
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Considering the government paid $2.5 million for the site, it is probably got a nice set of armed guards or some such surrounding it now.
And considering that the location is in the U.S., they are all probably trigger-happy suspecting some sort of terrorist looting expedition.
[EDIT: Spelling. I'm tired.]
[last edit 6/26/2004 4:01 AM by tnarduzzi - edited 1 times]
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autowitch
Location: Colorado/New Mexico
Hey! Where did all the explorers go?
| | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 9 on 6/26/2004 4:06 AM >
| | | | Found 'em.
Here's the sort of ruins you find up in this country. They tend to be in remote inaccessible locations. This ruin is on the top of a pinnacle in the middle of a canyon. There is an arch directly below the ruin.
The pinnacle with the ruin on top. This is pretty typical as to where you find Fremont ruins. There is a narrow tail on the pinnacle (heading off to the right) - it's only a couple of feet wide, but it looks like a wall was built along it's entire length.
A view of the ruin looking through the arch.
Looking into the ruin from the side of the pinnacle.
Edit:
Fixed stupid mistake.
Edit 2:
Misspelled stupid.
[last edit 6/26/2004 4:16 AM by autowitch - edited 2 times]
--autowitch
Hey, where did all the explorers go? |
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Samurai
Vehicular Lord Rick
Location: northeastern New York
No matter where you go, there you are...
| | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 10 on 6/26/2004 4:34 AM >
| | | | Posted by autowitch
The Fremont liked to write on the walls, so there are petroglyphs and pictographs on just about every rock you find
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Prehistoric taggers... i knew it was in the dna.
:oP
Samurai
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The Hitman's Daughter
Account Closed
Location: ottawa, canada
Gender: Female
hot pavement.
| | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 11 on 6/26/2004 5:02 AM >
| | | | Posted by Samurai
Prehistoric taggers... i knew it was in the dna.
:oP
Samurai
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we can bring them back to life using :technology:
richellesart.com
From now on and until the end of time, "Hip To Be Square" will conjure images of bloody bodies being hacked apart with axes.
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Kimmo
Noble Donor
| | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 12 on 6/26/2004 5:09 AM >
| | | | Posted by D Wrex
on a side note, I love how we are told in grade school that Columbus discovered America, I mean he was probably the first european that documented finding the west(the bahamas anyway, not even American mainland), if Im not mistaken the Vikings and Icelanders came before he did, and he didnt discover it, it was already inhabited by native americans.....what a crock, eh? sorry, I'll stop rambling now
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There's also now another theories of who first "discovered" the American continent.
According to some latest theories (under a much of contradiction) it could have been, that the Europeans during the ice age, would have moved across the ice, further and further, until finally reaching the "American" continent. So that the American continent wasn't really inhabited by the Asians, moving across the Bering Strait, but Europeans moving across the frozen Atlantic.
But like I said, that theory is very criticized, but interesting nevertheless...
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The Hitman's Daughter
Account Closed
Location: ottawa, canada
Gender: Female
hot pavement.
| | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 13 on 6/26/2004 5:25 AM >
| | | | Posted by Kimmo
There's also now another theories of who first "discovered" the American continent.
According to some latest theories (under a much of contradiction) it could have been, that the Europeans during the ice age, would have moved across the ice, further and further, until finally reaching the "American" continent. So that the American continent wasn't really inhabited by the Asians, moving across the Bering Strait, but Europeans moving across the frozen Atlantic.
But like I said, that theory is very criticized, but interesting nevertheless...
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Yeah I heard from my mom (i don't know exactly where she heard it though) that there was proof that the Native Americans were not the first people here, and that they in fact had arrived from some place else and drove out the people who were here before them. Some Native group was trying to have the evidence destroyed or something like that. I have no idea. I'm tired and I'd google some research but i'm hitting the sack.. zzzzzz
richellesart.com
From now on and until the end of time, "Hip To Be Square" will conjure images of bloody bodies being hacked apart with axes.
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Indigenous Insurgent
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Gender: Male
Only the Truth is revolutionary
| |  | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 14 on 6/26/2004 5:39 AM >
| | | | Posted by Freak
News reporters: "Hey! here's a treasure-trove of artifacts that would be worth thousands to grave robbers and looters, lets tell everyone where it is!"
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If it's not looted by vandals and grave robbers, it'll be looted by various "-ologists".
I wonder if they've been able to determine what tribe it belongs to and if they've bothered notifying them yet.
*sigh*
*Grabs shovel and heads to nearest cemetary to dig up some "artifacts"*
Those who make peaceful change impossible will make violent revolution inevitable. |
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HolyJesusILoveCreed
Member has passed away. Account closed out of respect.
Location: MN
Gender: Male
"So-called Urban Explorer"
| | | | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 15 on 6/26/2004 5:50 AM >
| | | | Posted by Indigenous Insurgent
If it's not looted by vandals and grave robbers, it'll be looted by various "-ologists".
I wonder if they've been able to determine what tribe it belongs to and if they've bothered notifying them yet.
*sigh*
*Grabs shovel and heads to nearest cemetary to dig up some "artifacts"*
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agreed, I find it highly disrespectful to the dead to dig them up for study,
kind of like how I find autopsies completely disrespectful, of course if they need to find cause of death, then its okay, but to slice and dice you for study is just worng
Now that I have found someone
I'm feeling more alone
Than I ever have before |
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quirk
Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan
Gender: Male
You are special.
| | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 16 on 6/26/2004 6:05 AM >
| | | | I, too, would keep such a location under wraps as long as I could. hopefully they'll get good documentation of things like the arrowheads and human remains before they clean the place up for tourists.
I would, however, like to clarify something:
Quote from article: "When one Kent State researcher used a pick ax to take a pigment sample from a pictograph, Wilcox "took the pick from him and took him out of the gate."
(endquote)
As a former long time resident of Kent, Ohio, I would like to assure everyone that this is not typical, acceptable behavior. Most Kentites would never EVER take a pick ax to a pictograph, nor would we ever break windows, set fires, incite riots, burn down an ROTC building, cut the fire department's hoses, or hurl rocks and tear gas cannisters at national guardsmen. Even if the fucking pigs deserved it.
Regardless, I am also looking forward to photos of the site!
It's in Utah, so I'm sure 1) the locals think it's a settlement of the lost tribes of Israel, 2)the native americans will file suit to protect (and then possibly destroy) the artifacts and 3) the National Park Service, operating on a shoestring budget, will feebly attmept to get rights so that they can interpret the site.
Let the battle commence!
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PAexplorations
Location: Pennsylvania
Gender: Female
Medication Time...
| | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 17 on 6/27/2004 12:30 AM >
| | | | That is friggin awesome! Thanks for sharing 
Your hand is staining my window. |
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Plytheman
Location: Lawrence, Massachusetts
Obey The Deer
| | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 18 on 6/27/2004 2:49 PM >
| | | | Posted by Indigenous Insurgent
If it's not looted by vandals and grave robbers, it'll be looted by various "-ologists".
I wonder if they've been able to determine what tribe it belongs to and if they've bothered notifying them yet.
*sigh*
*Grabs shovel and heads to nearest cemetary to dig up some "artifacts"*
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No one knows what happened to these tribes (if im correct) Most of the Native Americans that lived in these big rock vilages just dissapeared without a trace. Like the Anasazie (I know thats not spelled right, but whatever) If I remember correctly. Maybe the condition of the site will shed some light on where they went...
I'm achin, I'm shakin, I'm breakin, Like Humans Do!!
-Byrne |
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autowitch
Location: Colorado/New Mexico
Hey! Where did all the explorers go?
| | | Re: Who knew- Utah Rancher keeps UE location to self for 50 years
<Reply # 19 on 6/27/2004 9:28 PM >
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No one knows what happened to these tribes (if im correct) Most of the Native Americans that lived in these big rock vilages just dissapeared without a trace. Like the Anasazie (I know thats not spelled right, but whatever) If I remember correctly.
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Not exactly. The Anasazi were the predessors to the Tewa, Zuni, Hopi... They migrated a bit due to a pretty serious droubt.
The indians where these ruins were found were Fremont - a completely different culture than the Anasazi. I don't think they've been nearly as well studied, but they didn't disappear. Just moved on.
--autowitch
Hey, where did all the explorers go? |
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