Hello,

I would like to introduce myself as the owner of the virtual cache that has become the center of this controversy. The reason that I created the cache was to share with others some of the beauty and history that our state has to offer.

I clearly posted on the cache page the hours that the museum is open and there was never a need for a visitor to “trespass”.  In order to find the answers to the questions you never had to leave the public access paths that are maintained at the site.

As far as the “offensive” photograph it consists of my daughter leaning up against a boulder with her arm above the petroglyph. This boulder is located directly in the walking path that a visitor takes to view the various petroglyphs at the site. Since this is a museum and this particular boulder was directly in the walking path I did not believe it was “off limits” The rest of the boulders are separated from visitors by short tubular fencing that clearly define restricted space. Since this boulder was directly in the visitors pathway, not separated by fencing, with no signs stating do not touch I did not believe there was any problem with my daughter posing by the glyph. My impression of the placement of the boulder directly in the walking path was that it was put there exactly for that purpose. This boulder is also clearly separated from main rock panels giving me the impression that it was there for public inspection. Many museums have similar displays that the public is allowed to touch and examine. We are sorry if we violated the museum rules but it was an honest mistake and this particular boulder should have been clearly marked, or fenced off.

Whiling visiting the site, we spoke with the park ranger who happened to be Native American.  During our conversation he explained how many of the local Arizona tribes once considered this site as a primary sacred location to them.  He explained to us that many of these tribes felt betrayed and offended by the academic community taking over this sacred site and believed these people demonstrated little compassion, understanding or respect for their cultural heritage.  Many of these tribes consider this site desecrated and will no longer visit this area because of the interference of the academic community. 

Is there a double standard that the museum is offended about a picture of a child touching “their” boulder, yet have no difficulty alienating entire tribes of Native Americans in order to conduct their research? The attitude we’ve derived appears to be elitist, encouraging academia but forgoing anyone else’s learning.

The museum is run by Arizona State University, which is a publicly funded school. They lease the site from the Maricopa County Flood Control district, which is also publicly funded. I find the following statement interesting.

“ I appreciate the removal of the Center from your website. It has attracted
some visitors. However, we do not think your website is the kind of PR the
Center is seeking”

It interesting that they want to be selective in who can visit this publicly funded site. Who else is not welcome? The handicapped? Anglos’? Blacks? Hispanic’s? Hunters? Fishermen? 4x4 enthusiasts? Dog lovers? I do not recall seeing the sign on what they consider “acceptable” visitors.

What is acceptable P.R.? National Geographic Magazine? Readers Digest? Playboy? Since when do they get to control freedom of speech regarding this publicly supported site?

I also find this statement interesting:

“Please remove the Deer Valley Rock Art Center from your website. I hope
this request will not turn into a legal matter”

What legal matter? There never, ever, was anything placed on this publicly owned property. This site is listed a  “Phoenix Points of Pride” and “The National Register Of Historic Places”. Are they also going to be sued? Do a Web Search on “Deer Valley Rock Art Center” and see how many hits you get. Are they going to threaten legal action against all these sites? I seem to remember a little article called the 1^st amendment that maybe they should read about.

The sad thing is that as an educational institution they have missed an opportunity to help educated the Geocaching community about the importance of not touching petroglyphs. After learning of their concern I could have posted on the cache page about how the oils in fingerprints can actually harm a petroglyph. This opportunity is now lost because of their narrow minded thinking.

Ken