HELENA — The Helena National Forest is trying to figure out who vandalized pictographs dating back from hundreds to thousands of years ago in Hellgate Canyon.
The Independent Record reports that the pictographs, also called rock art, were painted on the canyon walls by Native Americans. Experts predict that the pictographs were painted between 200 and 2,000 years ago.
Earlier this summer, officials found the words “2015 Intermountain” had been scratched in over the paintings. The site near Helena was also vandalized last year when a heart with initials was carved into the rocks.
Forest archaeologist and official with the Helena and Lewis and Clark National forests, Mark Bodily, says the graffiti “has caused irreparable damage.”
Archaeologists estimate that there are close to 100 rock art sites across the forests.