Secrets Etched in Stone: The Mysteries of Capitol Reef

Ever wondered what secrets ancient rock carvings might hold? Join me as we explore the captivating petroglyphs of Capitol Reef National Park, crafted by the mysterious Fremont culture. Walking along the boardwalk trail, just east of the scenic drive turnoff and visitor center, I share my discoveries of intricate rock carvings depicting figures, bighorn sheep, and enigmatic designs. These petroglyphs ignite a compelling debate: are they art, writing, or a blend of both? Delve into the rich history of the Fremont people, who thrived from 300 to 1300 CE, and ponder the puzzles surrounding their sudden disappearance.

Our journey doesn't stop there. Connect the dots between the ancient Fremont culture and the more recent Mormon settlement of Fruita, and witness the lasting impact both communities had on this lush valley. From towering cottonwood trees to historic orchards, Capitol Reef offers a vibrant glimpse into the past. As we wrap up this adventure, reflect on the lessons modern society can glean from these ancient inhabitants who lived in harmony with their environment. Don't miss this thought-provoking episode, and make sure to subscribe for more intriguing explorations. See you on the trail!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

hey, welcome to the natural medic adventures. I'm back in capitol reef today checking out some petroglyphs along the boardwalk trail, which is located just to the east of the turnoff for the scenic drive and the visitor center. Let's check them out. I'm not sure how good you can see this, but there's a figure up there on that rock and there is a looks like a bighorn sheep above him or her. So that's pretty neat. So these tographs and petroglyphs they're mostly petroglyphs here were left by what a culture? The culture is called the Fremont culture and we don't know what they call themselves. So that's what the archaeologists and anthropologists have called them. There's an argument among scholars whether it's writing or art. I would say it's probably both, depending on interpretation. If you look up here, it may be hard to see when that crack. There is several animals and there may be some right over here on this wall, but it's hard to see because of the sun right now. With that debate in mind, is it art? Is it writing? Curious about your thoughts? What do you think? I think that it could be both If you look right here. This is the end of the boardwalk. There is a Pioneer signature up there. Looks like it says L-A-Y so I can make out T-C-D. On top of that little rock right there, I don't really see any more petroglyphs down here. But look at this huge cottonwood tree. That thing is massive. We've got some more right here by the big cottonwood tree. Looks like some animal figures, maybe some deities or something like that. Looks like some kind of decorative items there, maybe like a necklace I'm not really sure what that was meant to be. Some more bighorn sheep Very cool, and the Fremont culture was very successful here.

Speaker 1: 2:26

They were here from Common Era 300 to 1300 1300, which is prior to the arrival of European immigrants or colonists, however you want to phrase it and they were pretty much blessed with this valley here. That's why it made them thrive. You look around at the rocks but you see all this green, which is very unusual for being in the middle of a desert. Looking down here at this panel, this is one of the orchards which are, according to the panel, 80 to 100 years old and they have more than 3,000 trees in the orchards. There's many orchards out here. You can actually come out here and pick the orchards that were left by the Mormon settlement of Fruita, and they use similar implements in order to farm the land and make it so they could be successful. The Mormon settlement, of course, was not as long lasting as the Fremont culture was here. The Mormon settlement was in the. The Fremont culture was here, the Mormon settlement was in the 1880s not sure the exact year and pretty much less people lived here in the 1940s, but you had the Fremont culture here from 300 to 1300 Common Era, so several centuries that they were able to be here and be successful, and I think that their pictographs that they or picture of this, rather that they left here, shows how successful that they were.

Speaker 1: 3:47

Final thoughts as I walk back to my vehicle off of this boardwalk what kind of things can we learn from ancient peoples? Obviously, they lived in harmony, in this valley, here in what is now Capitol Reef National Park, for like a thousand years. They just vanished. What happened to them? Where did they go? As the audio says and I'll link to the audio of one of their ancestors a lot of the answers that are here are actually more like questions. I'd love to know what you think about the, what they about, the Fremont people and what happened to them, or whatever other thoughts you have. This will be my last video for now about Capitol Reef. I'm going to continue on back to New Mexico, back to reality, but if you like this video, make sure to give it a thumbs up. Think about subscribing to the channel if you like stuff like this, so that you can see further videos. Hope you have a great day wherever you are, and I'll see you on the trail.