An article on bbc.co.uk - Bears Ears and Gold Butte: Obama creates two nature preserves - reports on the recent designation of two new 'national monument' nature preserves in the western US states of Nevada and Utah.

Newspaper Rock petroglyphs, Gold Butte National Monument.

The Bears Ears National Monument and the Gold Butte National Monument will protect areas rich in Native American artefacts from energy drilling. Some Republicans in those states are voicing strong opposition.

This coincides with President Obama moving to block new mining claims by Yellowstone National Park and new oil drilling in the vulnerable Arctic Ocean.

In what Native American tribes view as a victory, the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah will cover 1.35 million acres in the Four Corners region.

The Colorado River (left) flowing through the northern edge of Bear Rocks in the US Four Corner region. Image: AP. 
Bears Ears national monument in Utah (right) will encompass 1.3 million acres. Image: AP.

It will protect the estimated 100,000 archaeological sites in the area including ancient cliff dwellings such as teh Moonhouse.

In Nevada, the 300,000-acre Gold Butte National Monument outside Las Vegas will protect rock art sites such as Newspaper Rock, fossil sites and recently discovered dinosaur tracks.

The Newspaper Rock petroglyphs are believed to have been carved some 2,000 years ago, by the people from the Archaic, Anasazi, Fremont, Navajo, Anglo, and Pueblo cultures. In Navajo, the rock is called "Tse' Hone'" which translates to "a rock that tells a story". There are over 650 engraved depictions, including animals, human figures, and symbols. 

Newspaper Rock petroglyphs protected #NationalMonument https://t.co/RKyyr8mCmY #Navajo #archaeology #BearsEars #GoldButte pic.twitter.com/Seotp6NlOB

— Bradshaw Foundation (@BradshawFND) January 4, 2017

Vist the American Rock Art Archive:
http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/america/index.php