The Grand County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help after ancient petroglyphs were vandalized at a recreation area near Tusher Tunnel northwest of Moab.

The damage was discovered along a popular off-highway vehicle route about 20 miles from Moab and west of Utahraptor State Park. In a social media post on Sunday, March 22, the sheriff’s office said it appears a Baja off-road race team may have defaced the rock wall by placing advertising and contact information directly onto the site.

“This type of damage to cultural and historical resources is taken seriously and is under investigation,” the sheriff’s office wrote.

Anyone with information about who may be responsible is urged to contact the agency at 435-259-8115.

Petroglyphs — images carved, scratched or pecked into rock surfaces — are common across southeastern Utah and reflect thousands of years of human history. Some rock imagery sites in the Moab area date back as far as about 3500 B.C., according to regional travel information compiled by AllTrips.com.

The investigation comes as Utah lawmakers have approved a new law strengthening penalties for graffiti, damage or destruction involving archaeological and natural features on public lands. The law allows courts to order restitution for such offenses and directs those funds into a new Public Lands Restoration and Protection Fund, which may be used for site repairs, prevention efforts, enforcement and public education.

The law is scheduled to take effect in May.

This story was first published by The Times-Independent.

Note to readers • This story has been updated to correct the location and details of the vandalism.