ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) - Residents in southwestern Utah are standing watch over some of the area’s most ancient rock art sites.
The Spectrum newspaper in St. George reports (https://bit.ly/250ozkv) that “Petroglyph Patrol” volunteers will be at various archaeological sites on days with heavy visitor traffic to prevent vandalism or looting.
The patrol effort was organized by the Southwest Utah National Conservation Lands Friends Group.
Group director Susan Crook says the organization received support for the patrol from the Bureau of Land Management.
The BLM and the conservation advocates have been engaged in a partnership targeted at preservation of resources.
BLM officials estimate there are more than 6,500 documented archaeological sites in Washington County.
Archaeologists say educating visitors is crucial to protecting them.
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Information from: The Spectrum, https://www.thespectrum.com
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