November 2025
In mid-November, NVFCP Executive Director Rayette Martin headed north to the White River Narrows Archaeological District to meet with rock art specialist Dr. Jannie Loubser of Stratum Unlimited. Supported by a Lincoln County Archaeological Initiative Grant, the team spent a full week in the field documenting cultural features and carefully camouflaging incised graffiti at both petroglyph and pictograph sites.
What struck everyone on the project—yet again—is how quickly damage can be done, and how slowly it can be repaired. A moment of poor judgment, a few scratches made to “leave a mark,” can take hours of skilled labor by trained specialists to minimize. And even then, the truth remains: vandalism to rock art can never be fully undone. These marks are not just eyesores; they permanently alter irreplaceable cultural records.
Despite the challenges, there is good news. Stratum Unlimited and NVFCP are in the process of updating all existing site records within the district and documenting several new sites recently identified. Their work is helping build a clearer, more comprehensive picture of the area’s deep cultural history.
White River Narrows is a remarkable landscape, and one that is thoughtfully interpreted for public visitation. If you’d like to learn more about the area and its significance, you can explore additional information through the Basin and Range National Monument website here .
Together, through stewardship, education, and respect, we can help ensure that these extraordinary cultural resources remain protected for generations to come.
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