It is believed the the giant geoglyphs or intaglios near Blythe, California were created by indigenous peoples between 900 and 1200 C.E. Traveling between Joshua Tree and Saguaro National Parks, it seemed only right to pay these giant rock art forms a visit.
Just a few hundred yards off of US 95, some of the better examples have been fenced off to protect them. These giant forms were scratched into the desert surface for reasons unknown. Human and animal forms, along with a spiral decorate the landscape. To the unsuspecting desert traveler, they might go unnoticed as they are gigantic and must been seen from above to truly appreciate they\re scale.
The first one I examine stretches more than 100 feet to represent a human holding a bow and arrow. It is truly magnificent to see such works survive through the centuries. I do have to wonder though, what was they're purpose. While the forms can be discerned from ground level, it does take some attention. Like the more famous Nazca Lines though, these designs could be far better appreciated from above. This, of course, begs the question of how could the ancient people have appreciated them from above. There are not nearby hillsides or natural features provide such a view. Aliens perhaps? lol, We will likely never know, but we can certainly appreciate these works of art for what they are.
*Image courtesy of Google Images
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