Ha-ak, Blythe, California, 1982. This 170-foot “human” intaglio was created by removing the gravel covering of the desert pavement to expose the lighter subsoil, which constitutes the image. The figure is a female (a gravel furrow once indicated female genitalia, but this was destroyed and replaced with male genitalia in this century); its extended belly is further evidence of its female sex. Created by Mohave or Pima shamans between AD 1000 and 1500, the drawing may have depicted Ha-ak, a monster that devoured children, and was destroyed by Mastamho, the creator god. Near its feet is a cleared circle with thin arms radiating towards the four cardinal directions. Vehicles seriously damaged the figure before the US Land Management Bureau fenced it in.
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