Intentional damage at a beautiful Rock Art site. More Awareness and Education programs are needed.
Mar. 25, 2010
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Paintball play damages petroglyphs, rocks near Laughlin
SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL
Petroglyphs in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area that American Indians consider sacred have been damaged by youthful paintballers.
National Park Service spokesman Andrew Munoz said portions of four petroglyphs and rocks were colored with green and red paintball splatter last Friday at Grapevine Canyon, about two miles northeast of Laughlin.
Munoz said the site and the petroglyphs are culturally and spiritually important to the tribes of the Lower Colorado River. "It's like their Garden of Eden," he said.
"This area in particular is incredibly sensitive and sacred," said Rosie Pepito, chief of cultural resource management for the recreation area. "It's unimaginable to think of someone having a paintball fight in the Sistine Chapel, however, from the perspective of the local tribal members, that's what happened here."
Munoz said there has been some success in removing the color from the rocks , but that the oil-based paint has left its mark.
A citizen who spotted the paintball play in progress made a 911 call Friday that prompted a response by park rangers who encountered the shooters who had made it to the trailhead after leaving the site of the criminal damage. Munoz said the rangers confiscated two paintball weapons.
A 20-year-old Bullhead City man was cited for defacing and disturbing an archeological resource, using and discharging a weapon, littering and vandalism. Munoz said no determination has been made regarding citing or prosecuting a 13-year-old accomplice, also from Bullhead City.
