County
Washington
Year Built
1,000-13,000 years ago
Architect
Ancestral Puebloan, Southern Paiute, and Hopi peoples
National Register?
Varies by site. The Canaan Gap Archaeological District in Washington County was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 28, 2025. Many other petroglyph and roomblock sites in the county are undocumented, unprotected, and not individually listed.
Status
Still Endangered
Status Explanation
Washington County’s ancient archaeological sites, including petroglyphs, pictographs, and roomblock sites built by Ancestral Puebloan, Southern Paiute, and Hopi peoples over thousands of years, are still at risk because of rapid development and ongoing policy gaps. No city in the county requires developers to check for or protect archaeological sites on private land outside of designated protection zones. As a result, these sites can be legally destroyed before anyone records them. In January 2025, a construction crew legally moved a petroglyph near Auto Mall Drive in St. George. This incident received statewide media coverage and led SHPO State Archaeologist Elizabeth Hora to urge cities to adopt municipal ordinances as the best available protection. So far, no city in Washington County has done so. Some specific sites under threat include a 1,000-year-old Ancestral Puebloan roomblock in Hurricane, which sits in a planned residential development where a proposed BLM land trade to save the site is still stalled. Another is a roomblock in Perry Homes’ Peregrine Pointe subdivision, where the developer has not considered preservation options. There has been one positive step: the Canaan Gap Archaeological District near Apple Valley was added to the National Register of Historic Places in March 2025. However, the policy gaps that leave other sites vulnerable have not been addressed.
About the Threat
Washington County is growing quickly, and its ancient archaeological sites, like petroglyphs, pictographs, and roomblock sites on canyon walls, basalt boulders, and cliffs, are at greater risk as development spreads into areas where these sites are undocumented and unprotected.
The main problem is that current rules in Washington County cities do not require developers to look for or protect archaeological sites outside official protection zones. Some cities have hillside overlays and sensitive lands codes, but these are not always enforced and do not cover private or undisturbed land outside those zones. As a result, development can legally destroy ancient sites that have never been recorded.
In January 2025, a construction crew was seen moving a petroglyph near Auto Mall Drive in St. George, an area known for ancient carvings. State archaeologist Elizabeth Hora of the Utah SHPO confirmed the action was legal. On private land, owners can move or disturb petroglyphs on their property, and the state cannot intervene. "This is probably best used as a cautionary tale for the future," Hora said, adding that city ordinances requiring pre-development consultation would be the most effective way to protect these sites.
In Hurricane, a 1,000-year-old Ancestral Puebloan roomblock site is still at risk within a planned five-home development. Local officials and the Governor's Office support preserving the site, but a proposed BLM land trade has stalled because of a backlog of higher-priority trades in the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. The landowners, Interstate Rock and Interstate Homes, have not shown much interest in negotiating and are focused on development. Buying the property to preserve it is too expensive.
Another roomblock site in Perry Homes' "Peregrine Pointe" subdivision was left out of the approved development plan, even though people pushed for its preservation. Perry Homes has refused to consider other options, and the issue is still unresolved.
In Ivins City, a planned cemetery, city yard, and bike park on 100 acres of BLM land has raised ongoing concerns because it is close to areas with petroglyphs, even though sensitive lands codes are supposed to apply.
Access
Access to petroglyph sites in Washington County varies. Many sites on BLM and state land are open to the public, such as Bloomington Petroglyph Park in St. George, the Santa Clara River Reserve near St. George, and the Canaan Gap Archaeological District near Apple Valley (which requires a high-clearance vehicle). Sites on private land are not open to the public, and many undocumented sites also have no public access.
History
Access to petroglyph sites in Washington County varies. Many sites on BLM and state land are open to the public, such as Bloomington Petroglyph Park in St. George, the Santa Clara River Reserve near St. George, and the Canaan Gap Archaeological District near Apple Valley (which requires a high-clearance vehicle). Sites on private land are not open to the public, and many undocumented sites also have no public access.
What can be done? What was learned?
A good first step is to encourage cities to pass ordinances that require archaeological surveys and petroglyph inventories before any development starts on land that may have cultural resources. Cities can make these rules themselves, without waiting for state laws. This would allow them to require early consultation, which did not happen in the January 2025 Auto Mall Drive case or in the Hurricane and Peregrine Pointe roomblock situations.
People in the community can go to city council and planning commission meetings in Washington City, Hurricane, Ivins, and St. George to ask for stronger rules to protect sensitive lands and require archaeological reviews. The most effective thing residents can do is to reach out to their elected officials directly and ask for new ordinances.
For the Hurricane roomblock BLM land trade, the best people to contact are Sen. Mike Lee, who leads the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Rep. Celeste Maloy, who is on the House Natural Resources Committee and knows Washington County public land issues well from her previous work as deputy county attorney. Both have direct authority over BLM operations and land trades. Reaching out to their offices to ask about moving forward with the Red Cliffs-area BLM land trade is the most direct way to take action in Congress.
If you see damage to petroglyphs or archaeological sites on public land, such as BLM, Forest Service, or state land, remember that destruction or vandalism is a federal crime under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979. Report any damage right away to the appropriate federal land manager. For Washington County sites on BLM land, call the BLM St. George Field Office at 435-688-3246.
The laws for petroglyphs on private land are very different. In Utah, property owners can legally move, disturb, or destroy petroglyphs on their own land without any legal consequences, as long as they do not take them across state lines. Utah State Historic Preservation Office public archaeologists can advise private landowners who find cultural resources. They can explain options and suggest local museums as possible recipients, but they cannot require preservation or stop development. This policy gap is why local ordinances that require archaeological surveys before development are the most important protection available in Washington County.
You can help protect undocumented sites by volunteering with local historical societies and Native-led groups, and by teaching others about respectful site etiquette. This includes looking but not touching and never disturbing sites. These actions help protect places that are not yet covered by laws.
What is the timeline?
There is no single decision point for this issue. The threat is ongoing and affects many sites and areas. The Hurricane roomblock BLM land trade is the most specific unresolved case, but its timeline depends on BLM priorities. The Peregrine Pointe roomblock is still under development pressure, with no hearings or reviews scheduled. City council and planning commission meetings in Washington City, Hurricane, Ivins, and St. George are the best places for advocacy, and community members should reach out to their elected officials to discuss their concerns and explore options.
What has been the public discussion?
The January 2025 St. George petroglyph incident received significant media attention from KSL, KUTV, and KJZZ. It brought state SHPO Public Archaeologist Elizabeth Hora into the public conversation about the legal and policy gaps for cultural resources on private land. Hora said that city ordinances are the best way to protect these sites and called the incident a "cautionary tale." As of May 2026, no city in Washington County had passed such an ordinance. The Canaan Gap Archaeological District's NR listing in March 2025 was also covered in KSL's year-end preservation roundup.
Links to more information and articles.
KSL (January 2025 — St. George petroglyph moved on private land): https://www.ksl.com/article/51232157/urbanization-threatens-ancient-petroglyph-in-st-george
KUTV (January 2025 — petroglyph move sparks debate): https://kutv.com/news/local/st-george-petroglyph-move-sparks-debate-on-cultural-artifact-protection-on-private-lands
KSL (May 2025 — Most Endangered coverage, Washington County petroglyphs): https://www.ksl.com/article/51312075/these-historical-utah-treasures-are-on-the-verge-of-disappearing-forever
KJZZ (2025 — archaeological sites increasingly at risk with southern Utah development): https://kjzz.com/news/local/archeological-sites-petroglyphs-increasingly-at-risk-with-southern-utah-development
KJZZ (2025 — St. George petroglyph move): https://kjzz.com/news/local/gallery/st-george-petroglyph-move-sparks-debate-on-cultural-artifact-protection-on-private-lands
KSL (January 2026 — Canaan Gap Archaeological District listed on NR in 2025): https://www.ksl.com/article/51425124/12-utah-places-that-received-national-historic-recognition-in-2025
Utah SHPO — Archaeological Ordinances: https://ushpo.utah.gov/archaeological-ordinances-protecting-your-local-archaeology/
Utah History Encyclopedia — Rock Art: https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/r/ROCK_ART.shtml