Cretaceous

California's high desert is a stunning contrast of rugged mountains and arid terrain dotted by pines and cacti. This incredible landscape is occasionally marred by civilization however, as acres of beige housing tracts and big box stores spread out on asphalt tendrils across the desert floor in regular intervals. Devoid of character or interest, they form islands of air-conditioned monotony where few residents seem to ever leave. This effect does create a wonderful feeling of solitude in the countryside though.

Arriving at an empty parcel near the edge of town, we stepped out of the car and were surrounded by an eerie silence. A faceless sauropod mutely greeted us near a trampled barbed wire fence. Beyond were other pale white prehistoric creatures, their concrete forms crumbling into the sand and scrub. Although we were surrounded by a few homes, we were transported into a magical place as we discovered more bizarre looking creatures scattered across the desert. Some stood tall but worn, while others were little more than fallen husks splayed across the ground. We tend to think of concrete as a rugged, indestructible material, but these effigies have begun to disappear as they did millions of years ago. Perhaps archeologists will unearth these beings in another million years...