Visiting Death Valley National Park

Have you ever seen a stone that slides across dry land on its own? If you ever want to, then visit Death Valley National Park where large stones slide across the Racetrack Playa. You may not see the stones move, but you will see long tracks left behind the stones scientists have been trying to figure out this mystery of the sailing stones for more than a century. They have come up with many different hypotheses. Some once believed the stones moved because of the Earth’s magnetic field.

Others thought it could be gale-force winds pushing the stones while some said it could have been slippery algae on the bottom of the rocks. However, this is the legend of the sailing stones. Long ago in 900 A.D., the Timbisha Shoshone Indians lived in what is now known as Death Valley National Park. This is the hottest, driest and lowest place in America this Native American tribe believed that they were sent to live in a magical valley by their creator, Appu.

Their chief, Lapu and the tribe suffered through many difficult times. Lapu was determined to save their way of life so he trained his only son, Ashkii how to work the land. “Ashlie, it is getting so hot, we must prepare for our migration. We will need to collect our food and make sure our homes are protected,” said Lapu Ashlie was eager to learn how to protect his tribe by showing them how to work hard and be very smart to survive in the valley.

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When they migrated to a cooler climate, the Mojave Indians would sometimes attack them and the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe would lose several of their people. While they were in the northeast the Anglos came and further threatened their way of life. “The Anglos have come in search of shimmering rocks and white sand,” Ashkii tells the tribe. “Curse anyone who enters the valley!” demands Lapu. “Let them fear Death Valley. They shall be haunted by the stones” Ashkii, planned a revolt to save their land and way of life. As the miners destroyed their homeland, Ashkii was planning an attack.

This attack ended with many casualties on both sides Ashlie survived the battle but retreated to save the rest of his tribe. Before his retreat, Ashkii threatened to curse the valley so no one could live there. Ashlie said, “Anyone who roams, will be haunted by the stones.” The souls of the dead Shoshone Indians would remain in the stones of the valley. The souls have spent a century haunting the miners on their continual search for cooler climates and revenge. These stones move around the valley floor leaving behind mysterious tracks in the sand. This mystery scared away many of the miners who could not figure out how these large stones were moving without human intervention. The sailing stones continue to roam Death Valley to this day the question remains, is this the curse of the shoshone or is it a mystery that scientists are still curious about?