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Archaeology

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Geologist Clarence Dutton, a member of John Wesley Powell's scientific team, surveyed the Capitol Reef area in 1875. Dutton mapped a fault line adjacent to Chimney Rock along Utah Highway 24, and a copy of his field sketch is incorporated into the park’s Junior Geologist program. More...

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Capitol Reef

National Park Utah

Explore This Park

Park Tools

Archaeology

Archaeology

Petroglyphs often depict zoomorphic, or animal-like figures, that include bighorn sheep, deer, dogs, birds, snakes and lizards.

Petroglyph Boardwalk

A ranger demonstrates daily life of the Fremont Culture using a replica of a prehistoric drill.

Abstract designs, geometric shapes, and handprints are also common petroglyphs found in Capitol Reef National Park.

Bear paw prints found in Capitol Reef National Park.

Bedrock metates are found throughout Capitol Reef.

This granary, found along the Hickman Bridge Trail, was used by ancient peoples to store seed crops for the following year.

This petroglyph panel depicts anthropomorphic figures with trapezoidal bodies. Petroglyphs may have been used by prehistoric cultures to depict religious ceremonies, hunting trips, travel routes, and much more.

Bone Awl

Obsidian Drill

Snake Valley Bowl

Woven Mat

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