Stolen Petroglyphs

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Stolen Petroglyphs

Postby desertrat » Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:27 am

Petroglyph story spreads worldwide
According to the article the petroglyphs were only worth between $500 and $1500 and so the question is why would anyone go to so much trouble for such a small amount of money?!! It's bad enough that someone would do this for any amount of money, but such a piddly sum? Not only is the crime reprehensible, but it's also just plain stupid!
:smack:
According to the Times, the thieves used ladders, electric generators and power saws to steal the ancient art. The story says they “gouged holes in the rock and sheared off slabs that were up to 15 feet above ground and 2 feet high and wide.”

LINK: http://www.sierrawave.net/15279/petroglyph-story-spreads/
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Re: Stolen Petroglyphs

Postby mrfish » Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:27 am

Ancient Tribal Rock Carvings Stolen In Sierra Nevada
The penalties for this crime are not nearly severe enough. People in the USA often face much stiffer penalties for engaging in trivial behaviors that should be legal! There is no doubt that defacing ancient rock art is wrong and irrevocably destroys a significant cultural artifact. The penalty for this type of crime should reflect the seriousness of the crime! (Also it appears that the Huffington Post isn't so good when it comes to geography.)
The BLM is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to arrests. A first-time felony conviction for damaging or removing petroglyphs can carry a one-year prison sentence and a $20,000 fine.

LINK: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/19/ancient-rock-carvings-stolen_n_2159470.html
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Re: Stolen Petroglyphs

Postby cactuspete » Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:27 am

Donation fund for petroglyph vandalism case
Someone who would vandalize ancient petroglyphs is the worst of the worst. They should be locked up for life!
Greg Haverstock, Bishop Field Office Archaeologist, said “the damaged site was a pristine example of Great Basin rock art and hunter-gatherer domestic, religious and subsistence activities. The location of archaeological materials, feature remains, and the rock art clearly portray the activities that occurred at the site during the past 3,500 years.”

LINK: http://www.sierrawave.net/15312/petroglyph-vandalism-case/
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Re: Stolen Petroglyphs

Postby panamint_patty » Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:27 am

Update: petroglyph thefts and photos
Images of the damage are included with this article. It's really sad that someone would go to all this trouble to cause all this damage! What makes it even worse is that who ever did this did it for such an incredibly small amount of money. It boggles the mind to think that someone could be so stupid AND selfish!
With tall ladders, generators and power saws, someone went up 15 feet to saw out at least four petroglyphs and to damage dozens of others with hammers and saws. The damage was discovered at the end of October and went public before the holiday. BLM has heightened surveillance since that time

LINK: http://www.sierrawave.net/15316/update-petroglyph-thefts/
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Re: Stolen Petroglyphs

Postby cactuspete » Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:27 am

Petroglyph investigation continues
Hopefully the idiots responsible for this senseless destruction of these petroglyphs will be apprehended. I'm not usually a law and order guy, but this type of destruction is something that cannot be tolerated. I'm in favor of legalizing many currently illegal activities and I'm in favor of reducing penalties for many other activities which are currently illegal, but when it comes to this kind of thing I'm in favor of increasing the penalties and putting these guys away for good!
Keefer did say that the public has provided numerous tips and calls which have been “very helpful.” BLM is also conducting patrols of the area. Anyone with information is asked to call Keefer at 760-937-0657 or Melody Stehwein at 760-937-0301. BLM and the Bishop Paiute Tribe are offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the thieves.

LINK: http://www.sierrawave.net/15562/petroglyph-investigation-continues/
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Re: Stolen Petroglyphs

Postby panamint_patty » Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:27 am

Google Pays for Drones To Bust African Rhino Poachers
Here's a cost-effective way of monitoring sites of historical and cultural interest which are located in remote areas. Of course, it would mean that you would be a little less alone when you're out exploring these areas and it would be an expansion of the surveillance state, but that seems to be where we're headed one way or the other anyways!
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Re: Stolen Petroglyphs

Postby wildrose » Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:27 am

BLM agents continue to investigate petroglyph crimes
Hope they catch the bastards that did this!
:curse:
Stehwein said she could not report any new details on the case. Anyone with information on the case that would lead to the thieves is asked to call investigator Eric Keefer at 760-937-0657 or Melody Stehwein at 760-937-0301.

LINK: http://www.sierrawave.net/16055/investigate-petroglyph-crimes-2/
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Re: Stolen Petroglyphs

Postby BoraxBill » Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:13 am

Petroglyph reward, donations near $10,000
A few years ago the Taliban destroyed some ancient relics and people all around the world expressed outrage. This situation is the same kind of thing only instead of doing it in the name of some obsolete religion, these jerks did it for the money god. Same stupidity, just a slight variation!
:mad2:
Bureau of Land Management investigators continue to work on the case that gained global attention. More than one suspect used a power saw, generators and ladders to cut out and take at least four ancient petroglyphs, leaving dozens of others damaged. Agent Eric Keefer told Sierra Wave Media this month that the investigation continues but that nothing else could be said at this point.

LINK: http://www.sierrawave.net/16478/petroglyph-reward-donations/
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Re: Stolen Petroglyphs

Postby cactuspete » Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:42 am

Petroglyph reward fund raffle
If the FBI doesn't have at least a dozen agents working on this case, then I want to know what they heck they're doing!!! They'd better not be wasting time on enforcing laws that shouldn't exist in the first place!!!
:curse:
At least four petroglyphs were completely cut out of the rock and dozens of other artworks were scarred by hammer strikes and saw cuts. The thieves are believed to have used ladders, electric generators and power saws to steal the ancient art.

LINK: http://www.sierrawave.net/16563/petroglyph-reward-fund/
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Re: Stolen Petroglyphs

Postby wildrose » Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:37 am

Stolen petroglyphs recovered
Exciting development in this story! Hopefully they'll catch the culprits and bring them to justice!
:curse:
The BLM press release said this: “Petroglyph panels taken from a major rock art site north of Bishop have been recovered. Suspects(s) have not been identified and BLM is continuing its investigation, so cannot release further details at this time.

LINK: http://www.sierrawave.net/16651/stolen-petroglyphs-recovered/
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