GEOLOGIC SETTING OF NATIVE AMERICAN SACRED SITES, PANCAKE RANGE, CENTRAL NEVADA

Three ancient sacred sites in the northern Pancake Range are associated with cooling joints and weathering and erosion features developed on unwelded horizons in the rhyodacitic Stone Cabin FM (Oligocene). The sacred sites have spaced-stone petroglyphs that had Native American religious significance. The “Circle” is approximately 12 meters long, on a bare rock bench in the lower unwelded Stone Cabin. It surrounds a boulder, part of a boulder train from an ancient rock fall. Small rocks have been placed along joints for part of the circumference and the outcrop daylight on the south side. It is a girl's puberty initiation site. The “Snake” is a 123 by 45 meters petroglyph on a broad, bare rock bench in the upper unwelded Stone Cabin FM. The Snake follows selected joints; a shallow, straight, narrow swale and a freeform termination at its “head” surrounding a complex joint intersection. This is a snake shaman vision quest site. The “Hunter” lies on a steep, bare bench, also in the upper, unwelded Stone Cabin. It is not as well preserved as the other figures as the bench is much steeper. This figure appears to be an outline of the constellation Orion about 4 meters on a side.