Authorities seek help finding those responsible for damaging a petroglyph panel in Utah

JENSEN, Utah — Authorities in Utah are asking the public to help determine who damaged a petroglyph panel with illegally installed climbing bolts.

The bolts were found east of Jensen in Uintah County on what is called the Pregnant Sheep Panel. KSL-TV reports.

A land management agency photo posted on Facebook shows them embedded in the rocks beneath a petroglyph of a human figure and an animal.

The damage was first reported to the agency on Nov. 10, and the agency and the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office asked for the public’s help after officers exhausted all leads. Anyone with information is asked to call police.

It’s not clear how old the petroglyph is, but Utah has many prehistoric petroglyphs that are protected by state and federal laws, including the Archeological Resource Protection Act.

The Pregnant Sheep panel is located in northeastern Utah, near the Musket Shot Springs Overlook.

In 2021, Climbing bolts have been found on ancient petroglyphs near Moab, eastern Utah. They have been removed, but archaeologists say the petroglyph is forever damaged.