Hieroglyphics Near Benjamin, Utah

Hieroglyphics Near Benjamin, Utah. (Photographs by Leo Hafen, of Hajen and Olsen, Provo, Utah.) BY C. C. MAYNARD. The ancient Lake Bonneville, which has been segregated into Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake, has been a beating, throbbing, pulsating force in the making of Utah's topography, more particularly in the central section of the state. On its different shore lines, no doubt, a great and very ancient civilization has flourished and perished from the face of the earth. It is believed by some that the writings and picture drawings found near Utah lake, and in other parts of Utah, Idaho, Mexico, and Central or the earliest evidences of No. 1. America, antedate the Pyramids, civilization on the banks of the Nile and the Euphrates. At the southern end of Utah lake are to be found excellent evidences of a community of people who inhabited there, as I believe, centuries before the discovery of America. Their ancestors may have had some relationship with the Orient. It is not my purpose, however, to hazard any new opinion, nor to speculate on any theme relating to the origin or history of this ancient race. No Champollion has been found to interpret these writings, so the meaning of these curious pictures and drawings is securely locked in oblivion, to come forth, perhaps, at a later day.

HIEROGLPYHICS NEAR BENJAMIN, UTAH. 583 The rocks on which the ancient writings are found appear to have been selected with scrupulous care, since they withstand the "teeth of the atmosphere" better than the more porous, contiguous rocks. The characters represented seem to come under the following four divisions: pictorial, symbolical, ideographic and phonetic. By noticing pictures numbered 2, 3, 6, and 11 consecutively, it is shown briefly what I mean by the different classifications. The writings of these prehistoric people typify an active, No. 2. energetic race, and many of the illustrations doubtless accentuate several of the characteristics of the animals of the time. Other engravings show individuals with ornaments in their ears, a rude crown above their heads, and the semblance of a sceptre, or a "big stick," being carried in the hand. Dancing, jumping, striking and the attacking of dreadful antagonists, are given in detail in some rock features. The writings appear to have been produced with some pointed instrument, possibly a stone. The indentations, formed possibly by hammering, as with a gold beater, are very shallow, not more than one-eighth of an inch

584 IMPROVEMENT ERA. deep, all being nearly uniform in width. Some of the figures are two and one-half and three feet in length, although most of them No. 3. are very much smaller. It is evident that the activities of these primitive people found expression in these hieroglyphics; this being No. 4.

HIEROGLYPHICS NEAR BENJAMIN, UTAH. 585 the case, they were doubtless a warlike race, obtaining their food by the chase. There must have been many reasons, unknown to us, why this race clung so tenaciously to their island homes, but it is obvious to any one who is familiar with the geology of this section of Utah that the people were a part of a racial chain, extending from the straight of Magellan to the Bering strait. On the north of the Salt lake and in Idaho, near Pocatello, are excellent specimens of rockpictures in a splendid No. 5. state of preservation. But this plot of land alone, near Utah lake, harbors enough of the weird and strange to awaken wide speculation. It is difficult on beholding it to prevent oneself from departing into the realms of romance. It presents a magnificent panorama. The visitor feels keenly its scenic beauty, while in imagination he is linked, as it were, to the past. The accompanying pictures, taken specially for the Era by Leo Hafen, of Hafen & Olsen, photographers, Provo, Utah, may assist the reader to form a clearer idea of the ancient writings: No. 6.

586 IMPROVEMENT ERA. No. 1, a fan-like figure with a representation of an animal, resembling a creature between a human and a bird. No. 2 is in the most perfect state of preservation. It appears to show some of the sports engaged in, doubtless looking to the development of the physical child. In front of the boyish figure are two mountain goats, at which the youthful Nimrod is casting a spear or javelin. Near him are two senior companions, who appear to be giving instructions. Two angles of the rock are shown— the darker side contains the outlines of a woman or girl walking rapidly. One imagines some artistic taste in the author, for the drapery appears to be affected by the wind. No. 3 appears to be largely symbols, but like nearly all of the many other dozens of engraved rocks found hereabouts, it contains outlines of human beings. These rock-writings doubtless illustrate meritorious events in the lives of these ancient people who lived and perished on the upper shore-line of Lake Bonneville. The reader, however, must fancy whatever may appear to him as the best solution to these puzzling characters. No. 4 possesses a similar grouping to number three, yet may express a different meaning. For one thing, a crown is above the head, and in the right hand appears a crude emblem that might be taken as a sceptre. No. 5 is the only perpendicular rock, and contains several cracks or fissures. But these have left the engravings untouched, El - * i iiViiTliifnMfffiF^ Hi ft'■'?{■& J'M»' T '•^'-AH ■■ No. 7.

HIEROGLYPHICS NEAR BENJAMIN, UTAH 587 No. 8. No. 10.

588 IMPROVEMENT ERA. which might go to prove that£these writings are of more recent date than the others. No. 6 appears to be a conglomeration of scratches, but careful observation reveals many features extremely interesting. Near the center is a figure about three feet long, which conforms rudely with a human body, except the head, which appears to resemble a grainer's comb. Diagonally across the body is the rude design of a sword or wand, which may indicate a religious insignia, or some political authority. At the left are some of the No. 9. best instances of ideographs, expressing one knows not what, though one figure suggests an hour glass. No. 7. The extended hand, more than life-size, suggests a benediction that may have been pronounced upon the heads of his defenders by the great Sachem. The engraving is imperfect, as it represents five fingers and a rudimentary thumb. No. 8 is left for the reader's own interpretation. No. 9. From this view, some idea may be obtained of the scattered condition of these fragmentary, volcanic rocks, bearing the inscriptions from which the photographs were taken. At the

HIEROGLYPHICS NEAR BENJAMIN, UTAH. 589 east and north is Utah lake, and looking in that direction lies the Wasatch range, with Mt. Timpanogas to the left, with a mantle of snow on its upper half, partially hidden by cumulous clouds. This mountain has become immortalized by the brush of the artist, John Hafen, of Springville, once the home also of the noted sculptor, Dallin. This mountain, as well as Mt. Nebo and others, is pointed out to tourists enroute for Denver. Provo lies at its base, a distance of twenty miles. From this spot may be seen thirteen towns and cities, forming a crescent of settlements so interesting and beautiful that it cannot be fully appreciated until one has had a real view for himself. It is impossible to stand on such a place and not feel that it is one of the most inspirational spots to be found from ocean to ocean. Below the upper terraces of the old lake are two other shore lines,each of which it may have taken many centuries to produce. When the lake reached the upper shore line, the chain of mountains locally known as West mountains, was broken up into marine islands; and upon these, inhabitants were conveniently located for obtaining food, making their ingress and egress over the West mountain crests, thus gaining the main land to the south, near the location of Santaquin. The mountains to the northeast, shown in the picture, are over eleven thousand feet above sea level, while the lake is nearly five thousand. No. 10 consists of symbols which, no doubt, involved considerable time and patience to produce. No. 11 has characters with some resemblance to Egyptian writings, found'on obelisks and marble columns along the Nile valley. No 11

590 IMPROVEMENT ERA. No. 12 seems to portray some individuals in high glee; perchance they are indulging in revelries celebrating some important victory over their enemies. The writings found upon these rocks resemble very closely those of the cliff dwellers, to be seen in different parts of Utah and Colorado. The i ace who wrote upon these rocks may have been the progenitors of the cliff dwellers. The Indian tribes now living are ignorant of the significance of these hieroglyphics, and can give no reason for their existence. The writers may have been contemporaneous with the mound builders, or with the civilization that built the buried city of Copan, in Yucatan. Should any visitor become interested in these strange records of an ancient people, any school boy in the village will be glad to direct him to where they may be seen. All strangers will be kindly treated by the villagers, and helped in their efforts to make ®fc Mfe & '&" J*K • * No. 12.