Archaeologists shaken for 'all time vandalism in California

Archaeologists shaken for 'all-time vandalism "in California

Archaeologists put out bounty of $ 1,000 for information that could lead to the arrest in what may be the all-time act of vandalis.

Fire petroglyphs, described by authorities as irreplaceable, is simply stolen. Likely the theft was done with a sharp saw or concrete cutter.

Carvings, which are more than 3500 years old, are picto-graphs of circles, deer, snakes and hunters with bows and arrows. They are cut into volcanic rock, is part of a larger Native past memory located in Bishop, California.

The place is considered sacred by the natives, in addition to being listed on the list of national historic sites.

- The people who did this have destroyed an irreplaceable part of our national heritage, says Bernadette Lovato in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to the Los Angeles Times.

- All time worst vandalism

Carvings have survived wind, floods and earthquakes through the centuries, but it has probably just taken the thieves a few hours to remove them. In addition to the cutting tool, the thieves likely had ladders, as some of the 60 cm large carvings lay up to five meters above the ground.

The government has increased security on this and similar sites, and hope to apprehend the perpetrators as fast as possible.

In addition to the four that were stolen, was a fifth damaged by deep cuts, and a sixth removed but left in a parking lot nearby, probably because it was broken. Several others were marked by a hammer.

- This was not done with surgical precision, but hammered and cut out, says Greg Haverstock BLM in the Los Angeles Times.


Archaeologist David Whitley, who helped to get  site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, told the newspaper that such cultural treasures are vulnerable to vandalism and highlights the difficulty of taking care of them.

- Shall we keep them secret in the hope that no vandalize them? Or open them to the public?

Now we hope the reward of $ 1,000 to help get all the thieves, who can expect imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to $ 20,000.
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