Wander logo

Sacred Stones

I am fascinated by pictographs and petroglyphs. Are they 10,000-year-old graffiti or a sacred magical, symbolic code, a treasure map, a historian's guide book in storied stone?

By Marlene AffeldPublished 4 years ago 4 min read
Like

In 1806, while on their historic journey across Montana, the Lewis and Clark Expedition encountered several signs of the first inhabitants of this great land. Pictographs and petroglyphs were inscribed on rock faces by the tribes that lived in this area as well as nomadic tribes that followed the bison herds across the Great Plains. From Clark's Journal ". . .on the face of this rock the figures of animals". To an archaeologist, there is a distinct difference between pictographs and petroglyphs. Pictographs are intricate designs painted on a hard surface, and petroglyphs are chiseled or carved into the rock surface.

By Joshua Gresham on Unsplash

Cave walls and cliff faces bear witness to the travels, hunts, and brave deeds of prehistoric hunters and their historic American Indian counterparts that inhabited the caves sporadically for a period of nearly 10,000 years. These early residents of Montana left behind a rich legacy of artifacts and painted images that many feel has magical significance; evocative and mystical, they fire our imagination and connect us with our past.

By Chad Peltola on Unsplash

Distinctive remnants of the past can be viewed along the Sun River, the Smith River, in the Little Bear Mountains, the Lewis and Clark National Forest, and in numerous other historic locations across Montana. Kila, Montana, near Kalispell, is another site of exceptional renderings of warriors, buffalo, and tribal culture. At Kila, there are two sites with hundreds of images. Hellgate Canyon, a narrow passage from the Missoula Valley to the plains, is an impressive viewing of Indian petroglyphs that grace the canyon walls. In neighboring northern Idaho, extensive storied stones are found on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille.

By Andrew James on Unsplash

Most of the American Indian tribes of Montana created forms of rock art. Anthropological researchers interpret many of the drawings to be a type of calendar to mark important dates, documentation of successful hunts, and drawing of battles or acts of courage. A handprint is one of the most common markings to signify the creator, similar to our practice today of signing our signature. These early artists would place their hand against a rock and then using a reed or a hollow feather, blow liquid dyes around the hand to trace its outline.

These early tribal artists also used delicate brushes made from feathers, twigs, animal hair, and small bones. Many paintings have been inscribed with sharpened etching tools. Pigments were made from crushed minerals, clays, and charcoal mixed with animal fats, plant extracts, and blood.

Many of the paintings were made to seek favor from the gods, to protect the tribe, and by telling their stories, educate the young. Located about 13 miles from Billings, Montana, Pictograph Cave State Park documents life before Native Americans, or the White man ever stepped foot on the land that is now Montana.

By Thomas Kelley on Unsplash

The drawings at Pictograph State Park are believed to be over 2000 years old. Over 30,000 artifacts that tell about prehistoric life, hunting, and social structure have already been recovered from this amazing site. The images of warriors, wildlife, and tribal rituals tell a complex story of life thousands of years ago. The paintings are open to interpretation. We will never know exactly what happened those many years ago, but rock art gives us a glimpse into the culture of prehistoric man. The two main caves - Pictograph and Ghost Cave were home to generations of prehistoric hunters. Middle Cave does not reflect signs of inhabitation.

By Luke Southern on Unsplash

Scientists also exhumed the skeletal remains of at least nine people in and about the area around the caves. This included one unfortunate individual who had been crushed by falling boulders. Several of the human bones recovered from Pictograph Cave State Park have the same teeth and burn markings as bison bones found in the caves. These burn and bite marks have lead anthropologists to speculate that these prehistoric residents practiced cannibalism.

During the early 1900's many people were aware of the "Indian Caves" as they were located along a frequented route between Billings and the town of Coburn located on the Crow Indian Reservation. The curious would often stop and explore the caves and rest for a while on their journey. A cold, freshwater spring and welcome shade made the caves a popular camping spot for travelers.

Although decades of people living around Billings were familiar with the caves, they did not gain real notice until 1936 when a group of amateur anthropologists unearthed deposits of prehistoric artifacts in the cave floor. In 1937 the Montana Highway Commission acquired the site to preserve this impressive part of history for future generations.

By Tony Reid on Unsplash

Another remote area in southern Montana holds a wealth of storied stone. Weatherman Draw, also known as the "Valley of The Chiefs," a two-mile stretch of history, hides numerous multicolored depictions of people, shields, and animals, which scientists believe are over 1000 years of age. The mystical depictions are considered the best-preserved examples of rock in the High Plains. More than 10 Indian tribes hold the area sacred. Threatened by oil drilling in the late 1990s, the site is now preserved under a donation to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

america
Like

About the Creator

Marlene Affeld

“A passionate writer for more than 30 years, Marlene Affeld’s passion for the environment inspires her to write informative articles to assist others in living a green lifestyle.”

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.