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transformations...#2
The vandalism of:
THE MOAB
PANEL
The
magnifcent rock art at the mouth of Courthouse Wash had survived
centuries of wind and rain. Thousands of people had admired the
brilliantly painted pictographs.
But
on the morning of April 16, 1980, park rangers were horrifed to
discover the panel had been severely vandalized during the night.
Historian John Hoffman interviewed Ranger Tom Wylie who remembered
“getting out of the car and looking up there, and having a sinking
feeling.”
The vandals had used wire brushes and soap and water to literally scour the images from the ancient sandstone.
The
Park Service hired art restorer Connie Silver to repair the damage. She
was able to restore some of the fgures but the colorful shields were
lost.
No one was ever caught or punished for the crime.
JS