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41º 05’ 56.13” N 119º 24’ 10.75” W

Looking West over Rt447.  Only 700ft from the highway.

Nearly every day of every year people pass by a most ancient site in North America.  The Winnemucca Petroglyphs have been studies over and over and have been declared the oldest Petroglpyhs in North America. And they are right there in open view to the world yet for all the passers by they never see them nor do they have a clue they exist.

The Black Rock Desert holds some of the North America’s oldest works of art. Petroglyphs created by Paleo-Indians on the west side of Nevada's dried-up Winnemucca Lake remain a historical record of man’s presence in the Black Rock area.

There are several limestone boulders with deep, ancient carvings; some resemble trees and leaves, whereas others are more abstract designs that look like ovals or diamonds in a chain. The true age of this rock art has not been known, but a new analysis suggests these Petroglyphs are the oldest in North America, dating back to between 10,500 and 14,800 years ago.

Though Winnemucca Lake is now barren, at other times in the past it was so full of water the lake would have submerged the rocks where the Petroglyphs were found and spilled its excess contents over Emerson Pass to the north.

How the petroglyphs were created is not known. One possibility is that hard volcanic rock was used to chip away at the softer carbonate formations on the boulders. Discovery Channel's 'Ancient Aliens' claim they were made by extraterrestrials using technology we can only dream of today.

The rocks include both simple petroglyphs such as straight lines and swirls and more complex petroglyphs that resemble trees, flowers, or the veins of a leaf. There also is an intricate diamond pattern on one rock. The smallest are approximately 8 inches in width, while the largest are 3 feet. Grooves are approximately .4 to .8 inches deep. The carvings are deeper and larger than those typically found in the Southwestern United States.

The meaning of the carvings is unknown but it is suggested the Petroglyphs may represent meteorological symbols such as clouds and lightning. The team researching the Petroglyphs suggests the Winnemucca Lake Petroglyphs share several distinctive features in common with other older Petroglyphs that are not found in more recent Petroglyphs

With all of this information the best we can say is everyone, and we do mean everyone, has past by these fantastic images. Every time you head north on Rt447 heading to Gerlach, or returning south heading toward Nixon, you pass right by them - almost a stones throw from the road, actually only 700 feet.

Traveling Rt447 you will come to a gravel pit, a place NDOT loads their trucks in the winter (40° 07' 04.30" N 119° 22' 07.50" W). The best way to access the Petroglyphs is to enter the gravel pit and take the road that runs up behind. There is plenty of parking behind the rocks, from there you can walk all around searching for the art. Coming from the rear the largest Petroglyph will probably be the first one you find. It is a large snake skin

90% of the Petroglyphs are located on the side of the hill facing Rt447. However, if you look good enough you’ll be rewarded with art most people miss. As stated these Petroglyphs are a thousand years old and really weather worn and beaten.

It is best to visit this site in the morning or high noon. After noon the sun is behind the hill and the full appreciation of the Petroglyphs is lessened, but not lost.

The Winnemucca Petroglyphs rest on Paiute Land and are protected as such.  A Paiute Permit is required to go off road to see them. Remember this place is a No Trespassing area.  Only Tribal Members can enter it freely.  Get a Pauite Permit from Tribal Headquarters in Nixon and ask permission before you just run up to see them.  If caught there without a permit there is a hefty fine and a possible visit to the Nixon jail.  Stay on the highway and use your telephoto lens.

View from the road using a telephoto lens. Even with the naked eyes the art can be seen.

From up in the rocks you can see how close Winnemucca Lake is.

The images are carved in Tuff/Limestone and are severely weather worn.

Top right is a 'slice' of Tuff showing weather worn radial Thinolite crystals - nothing to do with the art.

These carvings are very deep unlike most other petroglyphs found in the western states.

 

That's Winnemucca Lake peeking over on the left.

An interesting location among the rocks. Thinolite crystals are very viewable on the right.

What these carvings mean is anyone's guess. Your imagination can provide most anything.

Keep in mind these Petroglyphs rest on Paiute Land and are protected as such.  A Paiute Permit is required to go off road to see them. Remember this place is a No Trespassing area.  Only Tribal Members can enter it freely.  Respect, if not the Paiutes, the Petroglyphs themselves.  They are a national treasure.