Hayfield Petroglyph Site, Joshua Tree National Park, California

Finding Lost Civilizations - An Educational Series - Additional Treks At - storiesbyalex.com
Trek with me to Joshua Tree National Park and view symbols left behind by ancient man.

[@timothytousseau331]

Thank you for sharing

[@cindyshanks7141]

So love the way you narrate and your knowledge that you share. Your filming is awesome and so pleasant to watch. Thank you, please never stop.

[@bobm9443]

I went to this site in 2018 it is truly amazing. From the moment I pulled off the road to park I looked at the hill in front of me and saw a whole wall of petroglyphs. We scoured the canyon as you did and dicovered hundreds of them We also found a hand pictograph up the canyon near where you went.Truly a window into the past.

[@artreyes9032]

Did you take the road passing through that factory? I’m doing research how to get there but I don’t see any reachable roads other then that road.

[@mattjimenez4151]

Thank you Alex - very informative. My son and I hiked this area a few years ago. The spot where you found the boulder with three mortars was nearly covered with sand when we hiked there. Obviously the recent storm flooding cleared it all out. As you probably know, that very spot is the site of a natural spring (hence the bees). Further up the arroyo are several rock shelters. Again, thanks for sharing!

[@storiesbyalex]

Matt, thanks for watching and your comments.....................alex

[@barbarajohnson1442]

Fantastic! Wish I had seen this before my trip 3 weeks ago. I must go back. I had read that Disney crew had over painted them so I didn't pursue the ones at the Dam. Thank you!!!

[@davidadams9653]

Thank you! I Spent quite a bit of time at nearby MCB 29 Palms In my youth and also rock climbing at Indian Cove. I find the more archaic abstract symbols to be the most intriguing. It has been suggested that these simple geometric forms are the product of trance states induced by: rhythmic drumming, sleep deprivation, fasting etc.

[@canyonroots]

Lots of ideas and theories about meaning.

[@johnbarrows2034]

That was beautiful Alex. Thanks for taking us on this fascinating discovery trail.

[@storiesbyalex]

John, thanks for watching. It was definitely a fun journey....................alex

[@galloamaya]

Thank you for your videos. Check out Corn Springs on the other side of the Freeway

[@SolzeyeJewels]

I can't believe I am just finding your channel. Glyphs are my passion! I'm going to binge watch all your videos. I'm so excited. Just glancing at your videos, there are many places I've not been to. Nice to "meet you". - Susanne

[@storiesbyalex]

Susanne, thanks for watching. They were all fun journeys...........................alex

[@digitikiproductions]

Your videos are absolutely fascinating. I have question: are these petroglyphs accessible to us ? I mean, if I wanted to hike to look for some I these areas of Joshua Tree, would we need any special permission? Any that are easily accessible? My kids 7 & 10 yrs would absolutely love to hike and find these.

[@ShelleeGraham]

I really enjoy your programming, Mr. Alex Kerekes. Is there a chance you might lead a few of us on a tour with you? That would be amazing. Thank you for considering this request. Blessings to all reading this.

[@storiesbyalex]

Hello Shellee, thanks for watching the series and your kind words. For the most part I am a solitary trekker and do not organize tours. However, thanks for asking. My regards,.............................alex

[@victoriaagres5708]

Great informative video. I love learning about these pictographs and petroglyphs.

[@harirao12345]

Alex: Fantastic! A few comments follows. What you refer to as half man could be an anthropomorph kneeling down and praying for something (rain, game etc). The series of dots on another rock could be “phosphene” ... what the shaman experienced entoptically in a dreamy state. But what a unique site so rich in symbolism. The egret is a classic. Lately I have read that site selection was based on “acoustics” and I wonder if one can experience echoes, especially in the Canyon. Looking forward to your next adventure!

[@storiesbyalex]

Harirao, thank you for watching and your comments. Yes, I do think that all the elements you mentioned, to include many others, were a factor regarding petroglyph production......alex

[@troy19100]

Hey Alex you teach me so much thank you

[@storiesbyalex]

Troy, thanks for watching - I also learn something on each journey I take..........................alex

[@craigvoigt5798]

Thanks Alex. Great video. ❤

[@TennisLinguist]

Alex, I hope this letter finds you happy and healthy. Prior to posing a question, let me echo the comments of so many of your viewers by saying that your videos are very enjoyable...especially for a former Monterey Peninsula resident. Anyway, my question relates to migratory patterns of many of the indigenous peoples, the lives of whom you chronicle. It would seem to me that changing weather patterns occasionally played a significant role in determining the location of a living site...and subsequently the abandonment of certain sites. Clearly, climate patterns changed over time, and the natives adjusted to those changes. Given that these natural climatic variations took place hundreds, if not thousands of years ago, what does that tell you about today's arguments re: climate change. It would seem to me to favor the arguments of those who tie current climate changes to naturally occurring phenomena...rather than the arguments of those who blame man for all our climate ills (after all, I'm pretty sure the Rumsen Indians weren't cruising the Carmel coastline in SUVs). Your series highlights the fact that natural climatic variation has driven (pun intended) man's movements since the beginning of time. I look forward to your reply...and keep up the great work!!!

[@alexw1953]

I live here and my name is also Alex, this area is very hot as you've stated it's currently 89° at 1:30 AM, the 49 Palms Trek is about one mile from my house and I go on it all the time even in this summer heat when you live out here you adapt to the heat, but I've seen multiple petroglyph sites along the 49 Palms canyon on the exact other side of the mountain where you are. Lol

[@storiesbyalex]

Alex, thanks for watching the series and keep on trekking.................................alex

[@gratefuldoge8598]

When Petrogylphs are elevated up on a hill over difficult to reach rocks do you imagine it was left as a sort of billboard for others or do you think they were just relaxing up there?

[@storiesbyalex]

Well, I think the truth is that we simply do not know. Much of that history has been lost in time. However, I do think that early people had a thought process no different than we would have today and that there were probably a multiple set of reasons as to why or where a symbol was placed...............alex

[@dandygarnet]

Love your treks. Thank you!

[@storiesbyalex]

Sara, thanks for watching and your kind words......................alex

[@davislong9476]

I can only imagine what It was like thousands of years ago Its just mind blowing how and what these people did along time back........and give us there pictures of way back when, When I die I hope that I am given a chance to see what It was like back then...

[@storiesbyalex]

davis long, thanks for watching. Its always amazing to come upon these sites..............alex

[@apollohill6733]

I saw petroglyphs in Norway very similar to these ones. They where in the artic circle hmmmm. Sure is a small world. Great video . Thanks

[@zeynelocak9557]

Thanks a lot Alex.

[@kanchanathirunavukkarasu2551]

mesmerising

[@erlandandersen5782]

Thanks for sharing this interesting and well made video, Alex. My compliments. Your way of filming and commenting at same time is superb. I guess you are familiar with Scandinavian petroglyphs? Several motives among the petroglyphs in your videos seems to me to have resemblances to some of those here in Scandinavia. E.g. the serpent, the abstracts, the "compass" and the circle patterns. Maybe they are related in some ways way back in time? It wouldn't surprise me very much if they are. I'm looking forward to see more of your videos, Alex. Keep up the good works! :)

[@storiesbyalex]

Erland, thanks for watching and your comments. There is no doubt in my mind that people from the Scandinavian region set foot in the Americas - before Columbus! Also, many of the petroglyph symbols found throughout the world are what I would call trans-continental in the sense that they have some very close similarities. My general sensing when I see this is that in one way or another we are all somehow somehow...........alex

[@harirao12345]

The best explanation for commonality is that a “seed” culture, say from Africa, migrated to rest of the world and carried with them shamanism and communication via rock writings.

[@storiesbyalex]

Harirao, thanks for your comments. I wrote a book called Finding Lost Civilizations which is available to all, for free, on my web-site, which is an autobiographical story of my search for the meaning of the Spiral symbol. In the end I theorized that one of the reasons for a commonality of several symbols throughout the world is what I called a "collective sub-consciousness" within mankind. Which is to say that several early symbols were ingrained in our our sub-conscious from the "beginning". Carl Jung talks about this in his theory of human interaction. Later, as time passed we forgot the reason or rationale for the symbol, but is stayed in our collective sub-conscious, like a DNA imprint. The book can be downloaded or read as a PDF file via my web site at storiesbyalex.com..........alex

[@erlandandersen5782]

Harirao, exactly. That seems to me the best and most logic reason why petroglyphs all over the Earth have so many similarities. They have the same origin way back in time.

[@erlandandersen5782]

Alex, thanks for you reply. Yes, Scandinavians set foot in the Americas some centuries before Columbus, but then we're of course talking thousands of years after the petroglyphs were made. And like Thor Heyerdahl pointed out: they were welcomed on the American beaches by those who already lived there. The Scandinavian petroglyphs I'm thinking of, are basically those found in the southern parts of Norway and down along the Swedish west coast. I live in the area, hence I'm more familiar to those. The petroglyphs around here are said to be from nordic bronze age, indicating they would be ca 3000 - 1500 years old (that is according to main stream historicans and archeologists. As for myself I'm not convinced about the methods they used for deciding the age though. I think the dating could be right, but I think the petroglyphs could be both younger or older as well) In northern parts of Norway there are petroglyphs thought to be significantly older, maybe 10 000 years or even older. The northern and southern Norwegian petroglyphs are said to belong to two different culrtures. Among the things they have in common though, is that even if many of the carvings is located fairly high up on dry land today, they were carved into shore land rocks before the land rised from the ocean, and close to (ocean) water. Which makes me wonder; could there possibly have been ocean water near to the petroglyphs in your video some x thousands of years ago? What's their location above current sea level, and what has the land rise been like in that area since the petroglyphs were carved?

[@bcbconklin]

Well done, Alex.

[@cratturyoura]

cutting edge wonderful

[@jamesmunro8783]

Very interesting, can they still be read or interpreted?

[@jodykurt9935]

Awesome video, really enjoyed it!

[@storiesbyalex]

Jody, thanks for watching - it was a fun trek........alex

[@jamez34]

wow alex very precise informative video!! thanks a lot!! - RICK

[@northamericannomad4443]

I'm wondering if "half man" maybe a joshua tree image considering your location.

[@storiesbyalex]

Hello Nomand, thanks for watching and your comment. My sensing ( just a guess) is that the image is related to a desert lizard/gechko.............alex

[@janebeckman3431]

I'm wondering if the "rake" might be a rain symbol. And some of thoae candelabra-looking things are joshua trees? We can't ask the Ancients for their meaning, but some of these just seem instinctive to me. I love finding petroglyphs and trying to put myself into the mindset of the people who created them. Keep up showing us these great sites!

[@storiesbyalex]

Jane, thanks for watching and your comments. One of the things that I have noticed is that many symbols which are similiar, but found in different cultures, have different meanings. So, the greater question is not necessarily what the symbol means, but why diverse culture with little or no per-contact have the same symbol. I have a theory and wrote a book called Finding Lost Civilizations which is available to all, for free, on my web-site, which is an autobiographical story of my search for the meaning of the Spiral symbol. In the end I theorized that one of the reasons for a commonality of several symbols throughout the world is what I called a "collective sub-consciousness" within mankind. Which is to say that several early symbols were ingrained in our our sub-conscious from the "beginning". Carl Jung talks about this in his theory of human interaction. Later, as time passed we forgot the reason or rationale for the symbol, but is stayed in our collective sub-conscious, like a DNA imprint. The book can be downloaded or read as a PDF file via my web site at storiesbyalex.com..........alex

[@janebeckman3431]

I look forward to reading it! (I'm fascinated by the spiral, myself.) BTW, in Native American sign language, gesturing an ascending spiral meant the Great Spirit.)

[@storiesbyalex]

Jane, the spiral symbol is found in every continent except the Antarctic. And is seems that each cultural group has a different meaning for the symbol. The Hopi believe the spiral represents the number of journeys or treks a tribe or nation has made to the four corners of the earth. The spiral suggests an intricate journey made to the Otherworlds on back. Generally, the spiral represents a broadening of consciousness, which is the destination arrived after a long journey. Other tribes claim is was a sign symbolizing that water was nearby. Another tribe believes it pointed to the direction of a journey or migration, and etc. And so the greater question for me was why did all these un-linked cultures use the symbol? There is no definitive answers. Only guesses like mine..........alex

[@rd264]

you placed your compass West and East misaligned 180 degrees. see ~4:22 mins.

[@daieast6305]

thanks for the report on your treks... i wish you could give the propper name for the tribal people you say are indians...

[@charliedallachie3539]

It’s not perfectly aligned but close. That’s still how I get my sense of direction and time to this day (sun position) so it’s not exact but you can get a close idea. Still need gps for cities 😂

[@robertallen6710]

Thanks you so much Captain Precision....

[@aquillafleetwood8180]

Is the red mark pointing north? North is a holy direction! Google, Jeff Benner, the North Star and read his comments.

[@GOOOZER2]

You hav a staff your hand

[@cynthiapate9138]

I think the “half man” looks like he is praying on his knees.

[@Cobbmtngirl]

At 9.52 I see a skull

[@aquillafleetwood8180]

Shem had a grandson named Eber, from which the word "Hebrew" originated! Shem was the son of Noah! The word "semitic" came from Shem!

[@aquillafleetwood8180]

The "X", in Paleo-Semitic writting, means a mark, seal, sign, or covenant! These Indians made peace covenants as well as all out war against each other! Paleo-Semitic came from Shem! The original alphabet of mankind!

[@merleyazzilla3009]

..."They shot him across a great body of water to the East, where the Sun rises... With nothing but a white linen clothe wrapped around him, a mere pig, chicken, and a donkey to ride. For he was sent into the clouds on a Cross... And shot to the other side of the world to begin a new life. As he rose into the heavens, he spoke in every language known to the land... And vowed to be back in the future and the people will suffer his wrath of stealing, lying, cheating, and eventually killing!

[@frankrice5364]

Wado......A'HO

[@tuledude89]

1st

[@storiesbyalex]

Hey tuledude, greetings - it was a fun trek and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. My regards,........alex

[@robertallen6710]

Hey tuledude...thanks for that perfectly useless comment....