The Strange Blythe Intaglios in California’s Desert

The Blythe Intaglios, or Blythe Geoglyphs, are a must-see attraction located along one of the most famous waterways in North America. Just before it enters Mexico, it empties into the Sea of Cortez. Numerous enigmatic geoglyphs, or “earth carvings,” can be found along both sides of the Colorado River.

By scraping away darker surface debris, these intaglios reveal lighter-colored soil beneath and depict gigantic humans, animals, and geometric figures. A number of prehistoric geoglyphs can be found in the American Southwest, South America, and New Caledonia. Southwest and adjacent Mexico contain more than 300 intaglios. Along the lower Colorado River, the Blythe Intaglios are the easiest set of giant desert figures to identify.

There are different species of animals, anthropomorphic creatures, and random geometric shapes etched into the desert floor as part of the Blythe grouping. At Blythe, the largest human figure is 171 feet 52 meters long, while the smallest is 95 feet 29 meters long. There may have been powerful Indian clan members depicted in these figures, or they may have been humans interacting with their surroundings.

The majority of human figures are etched next to or near animal figures. A different set of abstract intaglios is located near Blythe at an associated site in Parker, Arizona. Almost 150 feet and 45 meters of serpent glyph lie on the desert floor near Parker, complete with eyes and rattles. There are some of these giant figures associated with 2,000-year-old dwelling sites nearby.

There are many similarities between the Blythe and Parker figures and those carved on the Nazca Plains in Peru. It is similar to the Nazca figures in that both cover an extensive area and include several animal figures. A layer of sunbaked rocks was scraped off to make them. Blythe Intaglios are best viewed from the air, as are the Nazca Lines in Peru.

It is estimated that the figures are between 450 and 10,000 years old. The Mohave and Quechan Indians, who inhabited the lower Colorado River area, regarded the human figures as representing Mastamho, who played an important role in the creation of all life. Animal figures represent Hatakulya, one of two mountain lions and humans involved in creation. The leg end of the creation was honored in ancient times with sacred ceremonial dances.

Three abstract human shapes, a snake, various geo-metric lines, a dance ring 140 feet 43 meters in diameter, and two horse-like animals are among the most famous geoglyphs at Blythe. 98 West Coast States have long-legged animals that are about 36 feet, or 11 meters if they are horses. Geoglyphs depicting these animals present a major dating challenge since they must have been carved before horses became extinct or after the Spaniards arrived. A geoglyph site near Needles, California, the Topock Maze or Mojave Maze, covers 18 acres and has parallel windrows about five feet apart. It is unclear whether Native Americans created the Topock Maze.

Approximately 10,000 years ago, Native American horses died, and their descendants reached California in 1540. According to another theory, some horses existed in North America before the Spaniards, but they were used as food sources instead of beasts of burden. Regardless, the geoglyphs cannot be determined, only theorized. The town of Blythe is located 200 miles (320 km) east of Los Angeles in southeastern California, near the Arizona border. Located east of the Big Maria Mountains are two low mesas, or terraces, where the ground drawings are found.

Just off Highway 95, the Blythe Intaglios are located about 18 miles and 29 kilometers north of Blythe. Approximately 15.5 miles and 25 kilometers from the site is an exit off Interstate 10 that intersects Highway 95. Highway 95 has a historical marker. On the west side, there is a dirt road with a BLM sign that leads to the intaglios.

From Highway 95, the first dirt road turnoff .64km away, and the second turnoff 1.3 km away. Three locations have six figures. It is recommended to use 4WD vehicles. The hike to each intaglio set is relatively short from each turnoff. Although each figure is well surrounded by a low-chain link fence, Hardy Boys’ 1961 novel “Mystery of the Desert Giant” prominently featured the intaglios.

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