Parkers Landing Parkers
12
Bald Friar Bald
listed north to south) to north listed
(Multiple locations within site groups are are groups site within locations (Multiple
9
Susquehanna R., Md. R., Susquehanna Friar Bald 12
Little Indian Rock Indian Little
Monongahela River Monongahela Geneva New 11 6 7 11 10
Upland Site Upland Farm Dunn
Upland Site Upland Grove Sugar
Upland Site Upland Millboro GREENE
SOMERSET
ADAMS
DELAWARE
Upland Site Upland Farm Francis 10 FAYETTE
YORK
FRANKLIN
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Indian Big
PHILADELPHIA
CHESTER
FULTON
LANCASTER CUMBERLAND WASHINGTON BEDFORD
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Track Turkey
MONTGOMERY HUNTINGDON
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Indian Little
BUCKS
WESTMORELAND CAMBRIA
LEBANON
DAUPHIN Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Eagle PERRY
BERKS
4
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Circle
INDIANA BLAIR ALLEGHENY
BEAVER
JUNIATA
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Conestoga 9
MIFFLIN
LEHIGH
SCHUYLKILL
SNYDER
NORTHUMBERLAND
NORTHAMPTON BUTLER Susquehanna River Susquehanna Island Walnut
ARMSTRONG
CENTRE CARBON
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Cresswell 8 CLEARFIELD
UNION
MONTOUR
Ohio River Ohio Midland
LAWRENCE
CLARION MONROE COLUMBIA
Ohio River Ohio Ferry Smith’s 7
JEFFERSON
Upland Site Upland Traister 6
MERCER PIKE CLINTON
LUZERNE
SULLIVAN
LYCOMING ELK Delaware River, N.J. River, Delaware Jennings 5
CAMERON
VENANGO WYOMING
FOREST Allegheny River Allegheny Landing Parkers 4
LACKAWANNA
POTTER
CRAWFORD
Clarion River Clarion Bridge Cooksburg 3
SUSQUEHANNA
WAYNE
Upland Site Upland Rocks Rainbow 2
WARREN
TIOGA MCKEAN
BRADFORD Allegheny River Allegheny Rock God Indian 1
ERIE Watershed Name Site
8
3 2
Walnut Island Walnut
Jennings 5 1
God Rock God
Indian Petroglyphs of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania of Petroglyphs
Petroglyphs
Archaeology is the study of past of human behavior. It seeks to identify patterns in human activity and explain how and why they change. Archaeology is also descriptive. Pennsylvania It paints a picture of how people once lived. Using information recovered from the ground, archaeologists can reconstruct the histories of societies who do not have written records as well as minority populations who were insufficiently documented due to their social standing. Edward G. Rendell, Governor One way archaeologists study the past is by Wayne Spilove, Chairman Barbara Franco, Executive Director examining locations (sites) where people once lived, played, and worked. Prehistoric and www.phmc.state.pa.us historic sites are non-renewable resources. When a site is destroyed, information about the past is lost forever. Unfortunately, sites Contributors are ruined on a daily basis due to modern The Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc. development, urban sprawl, and looting. The Pennsylvania Archaeological Council The Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation Because unrecorded archaeological sites are those most often destroyed, every effort must be made to locate, evaluate, and record their The activity that is the subject of this brochure has been financed in part with federal content for the benefit of future Pennsylvanians funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. However, the before a development project is undertaken. If contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute you know of locations where artifacts have been endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior. found and wish to assist with the preservation This program receives federal financial assistance for identification and protection of of archaeological sites, we encourage you to historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the record these locations with the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national Archaeological Site Survey (PASS). Information, origin, disability, or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been recording forms, and instructions can be discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: obtained at: Office of Equal Opportunity • www.pennsylvaniaarchaeology.com National Park Service 1849 C Street, N.W. • www.PaArchaeology.state.pa.us Washington, D.C. 20240 • www.phmc.state.pa.us/bhp/
The cover painting is Parker’s Landing Petroglyphs by Larry A. Smail.
12/07
Parkers Landing Parkers
12
Bald Friar Bald
listed north to south) to north listed
(Multiple locations within site groups are are groups site within locations (Multiple
9
Susquehanna R., Md. R., Susquehanna Friar Bald 12
Little Indian Rock Indian Little
Monongahela River Monongahela Geneva New 11 6 7 11 10
Upland Site Upland Farm Dunn
Upland Site Upland Grove Sugar
Upland Site Upland Millboro GREENE
SOMERSET
ADAMS
DELAWARE
Upland Site Upland Farm Francis 10 FAYETTE
YORK
FRANKLIN
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Indian Big
PHILADELPHIA
CHESTER
FULTON
LANCASTER CUMBERLAND WASHINGTON BEDFORD
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Track Turkey
MONTGOMERY HUNTINGDON
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Indian Little
BUCKS
WESTMORELAND CAMBRIA
LEBANON
DAUPHIN Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Eagle PERRY
BERKS
4
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Circle
INDIANA BLAIR ALLEGHENY
BEAVER
JUNIATA
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Conestoga 9
MIFFLIN
LEHIGH
SCHUYLKILL
SNYDER
NORTHUMBERLAND
NORTHAMPTON BUTLER Susquehanna River Susquehanna Island Walnut
ARMSTRONG
CENTRE CARBON
Susquehanna River Susquehanna Rock Cresswell 8 CLEARFIELD
UNION
MONTOUR
Ohio River Ohio Midland
LAWRENCE
CLARION MONROE COLUMBIA
Ohio River Ohio Ferry Smith’s 7
JEFFERSON
Upland Site Upland Traister 6
MERCER PIKE CLINTON
LUZERNE
SULLIVAN
LYCOMING ELK Delaware River, N.J. River, Delaware Jennings 5
CAMERON
VENANGO WYOMING
FOREST Allegheny River Allegheny Landing Parkers 4
LACKAWANNA
POTTER
CRAWFORD
Clarion River Clarion Bridge Cooksburg 3
SUSQUEHANNA
WAYNE
Upland Site Upland Rocks Rainbow 2
WARREN
TIOGA MCKEAN
BRADFORD Allegheny River Allegheny Rock God Indian 1
ERIE Watershed Name Site
8
3 2
Walnut Island Walnut
Jennings 5 1
God Rock God
Indian Petroglyphs of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania of Petroglyphs
Petroglyphs
Archaeology is the study of past of human behavior. It seeks to identify patterns in human activity and explain how and why they change. Archaeology is also descriptive. Pennsylvania It paints a picture of how people once lived. Using information recovered from the ground, archaeologists can reconstruct the histories of societies who do not have written records as well as minority populations who were insufficiently documented due to their social standing. Edward G. Rendell, Governor One way archaeologists study the past is by Wayne Spilove, Chairman Barbara Franco, Executive Director examining locations (sites) where people once lived, played, and worked. Prehistoric and www.phmc.state.pa.us historic sites are non-renewable resources. When a site is destroyed, information about the past is lost forever. Unfortunately, sites Contributors are ruined on a daily basis due to modern The Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc. development, urban sprawl, and looting. The Pennsylvania Archaeological Council The Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation Because unrecorded archaeological sites are those most often destroyed, every effort must be made to locate, evaluate, and record their The activity that is the subject of this brochure has been financed in part with federal content for the benefit of future Pennsylvanians funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. However, the before a development project is undertaken. If contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute you know of locations where artifacts have been endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior. found and wish to assist with the preservation This program receives federal financial assistance for identification and protection of of archaeological sites, we encourage you to historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the record these locations with the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national Archaeological Site Survey (PASS). Information, origin, disability, or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been recording forms, and instructions can be discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: obtained at: Office of Equal Opportunity • www.pennsylvaniaarchaeology.com National Park Service 1849 C Street, N.W. • www.PaArchaeology.state.pa.us Washington, D.C. 20240 • www.phmc.state.pa.us/bhp/
The cover painting is Parker’s Landing Petroglyphs by Larry A. Smail.
12/07 to help or heal their people. Serving as Petroglyphs Little Indian Rock Petroglyph “teaching rocks,” youth may have been of Pennsylvania Susquehanna River, Safe Harbor, Pa. brought to these places to learn about their culture and the world around Petroglyphs are images carved by them. early peoples into rock surfaces. These At Safe Harbor, some petroglyphs carvings may include lines, dots, human, appear to have astronomical signifi- animal, supernatural, and symbolic cance. Six snake symbols point to the designs. In Pennsylvania, most were sunrise or sunset positions for the made by chiseling rock with harder annual equinox and solstices. These stones. In Africa and Europe they can be events are important in determining tens of thousands years old; however, when to plant and harvest crops and Pennsylvania petroglyphs are considered people all over the world have devel- to have been made within the past oped methods for determining these 1,000 years. Similar designs may have dates. It is not surprising that Native also been portrayed on wood, baskets, American groups would have also and clothing, but these artifacts rarely marked these events. survive in the archaeology of Eastern North America. Therefore, petroglyphs Ethics and Visiting provide a rare glimpse into the minds of Petroglyph Sites ancient Native Americans. Great care must be used when visiting petroglyph sites. Many Native Petroglyph Locations Americans consider these sites as (see images surrounding map for locations and specific examples) sacred gifts from their ancestors, Less than 40 Native American therefore, visitors should treat these petroglyph sites are recorded in The above illustration simulates the appearance of the actual petroglyph designs at Little Indian Rock. sites with respect as any other place the Pennsylvania Archaeological Site Survey files. While of reverence. Petroglyphs may appear to be in good condition, occassionally found in upland settings, most are in prominent but even touching them lightly eventually causes wear. They locations near water. Sites range from clusters of a few designs Conventionalized Tracks Animals Serpent Shapes Humans and should not be walked on with shoes, colored with paint, chalk, Symbols Anthropomorphs to hundreds of images. Bird Four-legged Serpent shape crayons, or any other medium. The best way to record the Nearly 30 sites are recorded in the Ohio watershed. Along animal (Human/Animal/Spirit) Bear Serpent shape images is to photograph them under good low-angle lighting the Allegheny River, Indian God Rock and Parkers Landing sites Manitou Walking bird carved in relief Human conditions, usually early morning or late in the day. contain many naturalistic designs along with part-human, Spirit Deer Figure Several museums in Pennsylvania have castings or actual part-animal images. The so-called “Water Panther” at Parkers Cupules (Dots) Composite Designs petroglyphs on display. The State Museum of Pennsylvania Elk Landing is a spectacular rendition of a common design in the Circle enclosing exhibits actual petroglyphs from Walnut Island and Cresswell Thunderbird Transformed Algonquian belief system. dots, animal, bird, Rock. In addition, Web sites are a quick and easy way to view Spirit Human Modern Graffiti Human The lower Susquehanna watershed has the highest and human tracks Figure petroglyphs. and other designs concentration of petroglyphs in the Northeastern United For more information visit www.PaArchaeology.state.pa.us. States with over 1,000 carved designs recorded at 10 sites. Hydroelectric dams on this portion of the Susquehanna Our Heritage River submerged many of these petroglyphs and many were Only one petroglyph their specific meanings To everyone, petroglyphs are irreplaceable and removed for preservation by archaeologists. This watershed site has been recorded on are unknown. represent unique insights into past cultures. They are a contains a variety of designs that can be classified into the Delaware River. The Petroglyph sites major contribution to our understanding and heritage of three distinct styles: the Bald Friar group, the Walnut Island Jennings petroglyph (N.J.), may have been special, Pennsylvania’s past. petroglyph, and the Safe Harbor group. with similar designs found possibly sacred places. The Bald Friar group (just below the Pa. state line in Md.) at the Safe Harbor group, Carving images could consists of carvings of concentric circles, sunbursts, tree-like is a large rock containing have formalized stick figures, and designs that could be interpreted as stylized more than 30 images. and increased their fish or human masks. significance. Perhaps The Walnut Island petroglyph consists of designs that Interpreting some designs conveyed Discovering Petroglyphs are distinctive from all others in Pennsylvania. Although not the Meaning information indicating If you find a petroglyph, please alert the related to the writings of Asian cultures, these abstract designs of Petroglyphs Little Indian Rock, part of the Safe Harbor group, as seen on the Susquehanna River. good hunting grounds Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission are stikingly similar to symbols of the Far East. Archaeologists agree or describing the people and record the site with the Pennsylvania In the Safe Harbor group, the largest and best known sites that petroglyphs are a form of symbolic communication who lived in or had passed through the region. Prominent Archaeological Site Survey (PASS). Information, are Big Indian Rock and Little Indian Rock. There are more than and not simply prehistoric graffiti as previously believed. petroglyphs such as Big Indian Rock and Indian God Rock recording forms, and instructions can be obtained 300 petroglyphs on seven rock islands. Images at these sites Because of the amount of work involved in crafting them, could have served as boundary markers. at www.PaArchaeology.state.pa.us. include human and animal figures, their foot prints and tracks, it is generally assumed that they were created with serious Some sites may have been places where medicine men, as well as symbols like circles and dots. intentions. Petroglyphs probably served many functions, but community, or spiritual leaders went to receive guidance