Blythe Intaglios

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name = Blythe Intaglios
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location =
nearest_city = Blythe, California
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added =August 22, 1975
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refnum =75000452
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governing_body = Bureau of Land ManagementThe Blythe Intaglios are a group of gigantic figures found on the ground near Blythe, California. The intaglios are found east of the Big Maria Mountains, about convert|15|mi|km north of downtown Blythe just west of U.S. Highway 95 near the Colorado River. The largest human figure is convert|171|ft|m long. The intaglios are best viewed from the air.

The figures are believed to be between 450 and 2,000 years old. According to the Mohave and Quechan Indians, natives to the lower Colorado River area, the human figures represent Mastamho, the creator of all life. The animal figures represent Hatakulya, one of two mountain lions/persons who helped in the creation. Sacred ceremonial dances were held in the area in ancient times to honor the creation.

Rediscovery

Knowledge of the Intaglios was lost, until in 1932 they were accidentally found by a pilot flying to Blythe from Las Vegas. His find led to a survey of the area by Arthur Woodward, Curator of History and Anthroplogy at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. [Welfare, S. and Fairley, J. "Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious World" (Collins 1980), p.117]

References

*Blythe Intaglios, A Photo Gallery, James Q. Jacobs, 2000 - [http://www.jqjacobs.net/southwest/blythe.html]
*Recreation.gov - [http://www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=2050]
*Bureau of Land Management-Arizona Office [http://www.blm.gov/az/cultural/intaglios.htm]
*Google maps satellite view [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&layer=&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=18&ll=33.800182,-114.531902&spn=0.002617,0.003133&t=h]