Utah Unearthed: A Human History of Storied Landscapes
Episode Synopsis
Moab’s red rock landscapes aren’t just scenic—they’re storied. In this episode of Utah Unearthed, archaeologist Dr. Jerry Spangler takes us deep into the human history etched across the region’s cliffs and canyons. From the Fremont to the Ancestral Puebloans, Moab has been a cultural crossroads for thousands of years, and its rock art panels only scratch the surface of the archaeological discoveries made here.
Spangler shares insights from over 30 years of fieldwork, revealing how every side canyon and cliff wall holds traces of ancient life. He urges listeners to see these remnants not just as artifacts, but as sacred connections to the past—and to treat them with the respect they deserve.
As he puts it: "Every environment, every side canyon, the valley floor, the cliff walls, every place has been utilized by human groups for thousands of years. And we should respect the fact that we’re just the latest ones to be there.”
The classic Fremont figure is a human figure, an anthropomorph that is brought at the shoulders and tapers towards the waist in what we call a trapezoidal shape. Sometimes they have bucket heads, bucket-shaped heads. Sometimes they have elaborate headdresses, necklaces, ear bobs. So yes, there is a Fremont style of rock art. But that doesn't mean that all rock art was Fremont.
About Utah Unearthed
Season 1 of Utah Unearthed takes you deep into the iconic red-rock terrain of Moab — a mecca for outdoor adventure and a hotspot for ecological curiosity. Each episode, the team interviews a different scientist from a different discipline who will help both hosts and listeners unearth Utah’s incredible natural history. This podcast supports the Museum’s mission to illuminate the natural world and the place of humans within it. Learn more about the podcast here.
The hosts of Utah Unearthed include Aidan Bailey, an NHMU school outreach coordinator, Dr. Randy Irmis, NHMU’s curator of paleontology, and Andy Connolly, a former NHMU science communications specialist who now works with the Kansas Geological Survey. The show is produced and edited by Mark Johnston. Series logo by Will Shepherd.
