Archaic Barrier Canyon Style Harvest Scene Painting

Section of the Harvest Scene: tall figures, one holding a plant, with small animals

The famous section of the Harvest Scene panel in The Maze, Canyonlands, Utah. Two figures are harvesting and may be carrying baskets on their backs. The anthropomorph on the right is thought to be holding an Indian rice grass plant. Rice grass is believed to have been an important crop for this culture. It reliably ripens in late spring or early summer when stored food from the fall is running out. Note the attendant animals: the bird, rabbit, and two other zoomorphs along the arm and head. These are the only attendant animals on the panel.

Tall Barrier Canyon Style figures with horned heads, a raised arm reaching toward a plant, and small birds

A row of tall Barrier Canyon Style figures, one with white vertical stripes, along a sandstone wall above a ledge

The panel is quite faded from being in the sun and unprotected from rain and snow. Still outstanding though is the middle figure with the white stripes and tall headdress.

Part-human, part-animal painted figure near the Harvest Scene panel

This fascinating human-animal figure is close by the Harvest Scene panel.

The Harvest Scene Painting