Independence Creek Gallery

Devils River, Indep. Creek and Seminole Canyon, June 27-29, 2014 040 — View of The Independence Creek headquarters and Caroline Spring from the shelter that has a little rock art.

Independence Creek Gallery

In late June, 2014 I made a little trip out west to visit The Independence Creek Preserve, located about 22 miles south of Sheffield, Texas. The large (19,740 acres) preserve is owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy, and is only open to the public two or three weekends per year. The heart of the preserve is Caroline Spring, located near the preserve headquarters. This spring produces 3 to 5 thousand gallons per minute and feeds Independence Creek. This creek flows into the Pecos River, and increases the river volume by an average of 42%– it is a very important resource for this region.

I had read somewhere that there was a little bit of rock art at the preserve, specifically a small pictograph called “The Birdman”. So when I arrived at the preserve I hiked up to a small shelter high on the bluff behind the headquarters, where I found what I believe is “The Birdman” as well as a large number of sharpening grooves in the rocks and other evidence of some old black pictographs. There were also some scratched rocks that some might consider petroglyphs. Not a particularly large or impressive site, but interesting. Here are the photos I took that day.

The Pictographs…

Devils River, Indep. Creek and Seminole Canyon, June 27-29, 2014 038 — The small rock shelter where the rock art is located.

Devils River, Indep. Creek and Seminole Canyon, June 27-29, 2014 037 — If you look closely, you can see the Birdman Pictograph, mostly hidden by the shadows.

Devils River, Indep. Creek and Seminole Canyon, June 27-29, 2014 036 — The Birdman pictograph at Independence Creek.

Devils River, Indep. Creek and Seminole Canyon, June 27-29, 2014 032 — D-Stretch might shed a little light on what this might be. This was the only other pictograph, other than a couple of random, faded, black lines.

The Scratched Petroglyphs…

These scratched petroglyphs are unusual, and interesting.

An unusual round shape-- most of them were rectilinear.

Devils River, Indep. Creek and Seminole Canyon, June 27-29, 2014 021 — More of the scratched petroglyphs at Independence Creek, June 26, 2014.

The Sharpening Grooves…

Devils River, Indep. Creek and Seminole Canyon, June 27-29, 2014 005 — Sharpening grooves were plentiful at this little site.

Devils River, Indep. Creek and Seminole Canyon, June 27-29, 2014 006 — This was a popular rock!

Devils River, Indep. Creek and Seminole Canyon, June 27-29, 2014 010 — This small area was unique....sharpening grooves, or a petroglyph?

Devils River, Indep. Creek and Seminole Canyon, June 27-29, 2014 008 — Same question as above...sharpening grooves, or a petroglyph?

A Little More Exploring…

After exploring the rock shelter above Caroline Spring, I drove (and hiked a short distance) to the confluence of Independence Creek and the Pecos River. It was a beautiful and peaceful spot! Along the way and at the confluence I looked for more rock art, without success.