Stone Scorpion!

[Mike B in OKlahoma]

I photographed this petroglyph (symbol made on stone) of a scorpion at Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. I have no idea what the symbols above the scorpion are, though I can't help but think of a stinger when I look at the one directly above him. The scorpion was about four inches long. This carving was probably made by Paiute Indians, or possibly by a group known as the Virgin Anasazi, it's not clear (they tell me). These are thought to be quite old, probably 3000+ years old (for comparison, this would put them about the time of King Tutankhamen in Egypt and about 1000 years after Otzi the Iceman died).

These were made by pecking the rock with another stone--The red sandstone acquires a patina of oxidation over the ages, and pecking removes the patina to reveal the raw stone underneath. This panel faces exactly East, and I photographed it in natural light just a few minutes after Sunrise.

[Ken Ramos]

Quite sometime since I was in the state of Nevada. Of course when I was there, I was more concerned with the "wilder side of life" and less with learning a little something. Interesting photograph there Mike and equally as interesting bit of information.

[Mike B in OKlahoma]

Quite sometime since I was in the state of Nevada. Of course when I was there, I was more concerned with the "wilder side of life" and less with learning a little something. Interesting photograph there Mike and equally as interesting bit of information.

Ken, I thought you'd be there getting an education in statistics and probability!

I was in Las Vegas for a work meeting. The meeting was fine, but Las Vegas really put me off. Too many crowds and too grasping for your money.

[beetleman]

Yes Mike, Very interesting and Different. maybe the upper ones mean. Throbbing intense pain