Tourist Fined & Banned from all US National Parks for Misadventure at the Joshua Tree Indigenous site
Alexander Lee Demko, a 34-year-old man from Minneapolis, has been fined $540 and banned from all US National Parks for one year.
Demko was found guilty of illegally entering, climbing, walking on, and traversing the Barker Dam Petroglyphs site, an archeological hotspot in Joshua Tree National Park.
The Barker Dam Trail takes visitors on a 1.2-mile loop around the park's scenic rock formations, including ancient petroglyphs carved into the rock.
The petroglyphs provide insight into ancient human settlements in the area, and the Barker Dam Petroglyphs site is an indigenous space containing rock carvings and drawings.
Visitors are warned not to climb into the cave at the site, which is clearly marked by a plaque and sign.
The evidence presented in court showed Demko had illegally entered the rock shelter and walked over other features, including an indigenous milling station.
The National Park Service (NPS) aims to avoid any further wear and tear at the site and has therefore restricted access to the indigenous space.
The court found that Demko had ignored a clearly posted sign and walked into the cave and over other features, including an indigenous milling station.
Visitors are advised to view the rock art from a distance and refrain from stepping on, climbing on, or touching any part of the rock formation to preserve the integrity of the site.
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