Petroglyphs and Other Neat Stuff

Seahawk · 09-19-2007, 06:39 AM

Had an opportunity to drive WAY out in the the desert at The Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS), China Lake, encompases 1.1 million acres of land in California's upper Mojave Desert, accounting for approximately one-third of the Navy's total land holdings. The land, ranging in altitude from 2,100 to 8,900 feet, varies from flat dry lake beds to rugged piñon pine covered mountains. The majority of the land is undeveloped and provides habitat for more than 340 species of wildlife and 650 plant types. The area was once also home to Native Americans, whose presence here is marked by thousands of archaeological sites, and to early miners and settlers whose cabins and mining structures are still found scattered throughout the Station.

I'm the knucklehead on the right. We are in a small canyon filled with:

I also have some pics of abandoned mines and houses. Folks were basically told to "get out" when the base was establish. I'll post later.

frogger · 09-19-2007, 06:45 AM

That's pretty cool. Do you have any more pics? Are there any active archealogical activities going on out there?

gassy · 09-19-2007, 06:49 AM

Yeah, more pics if you can.

Seahawk · 09-19-2007, 06:50 AM

Seahawk · 09-19-2007, 06:55 AM

China Lake employs archeologists to ensure the sites remain untouched. Since the base is so remote and is a closed site, that's not too hard.

frogger · 09-19-2007, 06:58 AM

Thanks for posting this. Great thread.

kang · 09-19-2007, 07:08 AM

It’s ironic, but sometimes the best way to preserve sites like these is for them to be on a military base. I’m glad to hear there are archeologists involved, keeping the sites untouched. You should consider yourself lucky to have been able to see these areas.

Thanks for posting this.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

I agree, keeping the general public out does have it's upside.

Cool pictures, need a hat out in that sun though.

Seahawk · 09-19-2007, 08:35 AM

[QUOTE=kach22i;3487328]I agree, keeping the general public out does have it's upside.QUOTE]

They still do tours, rarely. One of the resaon they stopped giving access is below...in and amoung the petroglyphs is this:

It's funny, but has no place.

M.D. Holloway · 09-19-2007, 08:40 AM

Way cool! Any un-exploded bombs? Wrecked X Planes?

Seahawk · 09-19-2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

Way cool! Any un-exploded bombs? Wrecked X Planes?

The bombing ranges are littered with cool stuff...replica targets, buildings, bunkers, etc. All the unexploded stuff gets scrapped, as do the wrecked planes.

There is a site where they do live fire testing (actually shoot operatingaircraft...the junk yard has an amazing array of planes (and parts of planes) sitting there all shot up

Next time I go out I'll get some pics.

KFC911 · 09-19-2007, 08:57 AM

[QUOTE=Seahawk;3487341]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kach22i

I agree, keeping the general public out does have it's upside.QUOTE]

They still do tours, rarely. One of the resaon they stopped giving access is below...in and amoung the petroglyphs is this:

It's funny, but has no place.

Wow, that's cool, thanks for posting! I'm assuming "Seahawk was here" is frowned upon also, or maybe that's what one of the petroglyphs is already proclaiming

masraum · 09-19-2007, 08:59 AM

Very cool, neat to be able to explore like you did.

Scrapped planes. One of these days I want a 24hr clock out of a plane. I need to find a good scrap place.

kstar · 09-19-2007, 09:16 AM

[QUOTE=Seahawk;3487341]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kach22i

I agree, keeping the general public out does have it's upside.QUOTE]

They still do tours, rarely. One of the resaon they stopped giving access is below...in and amoung the petroglyphs is this:

It's funny, but has no place.

Why do you assume this is a newer marking?

Just more evidence of knowledge seeding by the aliens.

Best,

Kurt

P.S.: Very cool pics and post!

KFC911 · 09-19-2007, 09:31 AM

Einstein was a "copy cat"

stevepaa · 09-19-2007, 10:15 AM

Where on NAWS did you see this? I've been there many times, either to SNORT or the test ranges to the SE.

Seahawk · 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevepaa

Where on NAWS did you see this? I've been there many times, either to SNORT or the test ranges to the SE.

Up past Coso Village...higher elevations. I have a regional office in China Lake (Unmanned System Support Activity) and get out there every other month. I really enjoy or trips out into the ranges...lots of wild horses and stunning scenery. The drive in the jeep is great.

http://www.nawcwd.navy.mil/pao/pages/petroglyphs.htm

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Those native Americans sure were vandals.

dd74 · 09-19-2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

The bombing ranges are littered with cool stuff...replica targets, buildings, bunkers, etc. All the unexploded stuff gets scrapped, as do the wrecked planes.

There is a site where they do live fire testing (actually shoot operatingaircraft...the junk yard has an amazing array of planes (and parts of planes) sitting there all shot up

Next time I go out I'll get some pics.

Huell Howser had an episode of California's Gold devoted to this. It was great stuff.

He also went to an airplane graveyard. But I thought that was in Arizona.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

The boneyard is in Tucson, AZ. Also worth a trip to see the final resting place of our entire fleet of Tomcats and many others. Very sad, but impressive sight.