A new digital experience is bringing a unique piece of Lincoln County’s history to life, allowing the public to explore the region’s sheepherding past through historic tree carvings found in the Mt. Wilson area. CyArk, a nonprofit organization focused on preserving cultural heritage through technology, recently announced the launch of the free online exhibit. 

The project was completed in partnership with the Arborglyph Collaborative and the Bureau of Land Management through the Lincoln County Archaeological Initiative. The Lincoln County project marks CyArk’s second Tapestry experience in Nevada and joins a global collection of digital exhibits.

The experience centers around arborglyphs, carvings etched into aspen trees by sheepherders and settlers who once moved livestock through the high country of Lincoln County. Many of these carvings, some more than a century old, feature names, dates and detailed drawings that provide insight into the lives of those who worked in the area. Because aspen trees have a limited life span, many carvings are at risk of being lost to age, weather and environmental conditions. Organizers say the digital documentation helps preserve both the carvings and the stories behind them.

To document the carvings, project partners spent a week in the Mt. Wilson area last July collecting data using LiDAR scanning and photography, along with recording interviews from community members and experts connected to the region’s history. Featured voices include Mt. Wilson landowner Dan Devlin, Caliente resident and BLM specialist Jake Northup, University of Nevada, Reno librarian Iñaki Arrieta Baro and Boise State University history professor Dr. John Bieter.

The project is available through Tapestry, CyArk’s online platform, and combines 3D models, photography and video interviews to bring Lincoln County’s sheepherding history to life. The online experience takes about 15 minutes to complete and is divided into six interactive scenes, allowing users to explore the story at their own pace. It is available to the public at no cost and can be accessed online at https://tapestry.cyark.org/content/lincoln-arborglyphs.