Grimes Point
Grimes Point is one of the oldest known petroglyph sites in Nevada. It contains over 150 basalt boulders bearing pecked designs, some of which are at least 8,000 years old. In prehistory the site was located in a marshy environment created by the remnants of Pleistocene Lake Lahontan as it receded. The immediate area would have been quite rich in plant and animal resources that were important to prehistoric peoples’ economic practices.
The Grimes Point petroglyphs largely comprise striking abstract designs of types distinctive to the Great Basin culture area. It is likely that the petroglyphs were made and used over thousands of years as people revisited the area for harvesting the natural resources of this relatively rich environment. The Grimes Point petroglyphs probably had many cultural meanings to its makers and users. Archaeologists speculate that petroglyphs may have been made to record important religious beliefs, to mark culturally meaningful places, to mark a group’s territory, or to ensure economic success.
Location
Grimes Point is located 12 miles east of Fallon on US Hwy 50. It is open year-round to visitors and is free to explore.
