Researching Illinois Rock Art

Monday July 2 - Wednesday July 4: Co-author Susan Barker and I visited three Illinois Rock Art sites to answer questions and confirm information for our book, "Hidden in Plain Sight: ILLINOIS Petroglyphs and Pictographs for Kids".  We visited a private site near Murphysboro, Millstone Bluff, and Piney Ridge Ravine. It was HOT. We were concerned about snakes and the difficult climbs but (despite our age) WE MADE IT! It would have been lovely in the Fall or early Spring. I recommend that if you want to go see these sites for yourself, don't go in the Summer.

Near Murphysboro:

 We were awestruck by the rock shelter here. Only a few feet off the road, it rises like a cathedral along the side of a bluff. Despite the fact that the images have been defaced (once during the 50's and more later) seeing the images in their space made it easy to see why the Native Americans would choose this spot for religious ceremonies. Seeing the images in person only confirmed the beauty of the contours especially in the birds and deer. The size and scale of the shelter was cathedral-like. Here are a few photos we took at the site.

Parked by the path

If you see the waterfall, you've gone too far.

Susan taking photos of the petroglyphs.

A handprint (?) and "Duck Boy"

Vertical ogee

Unidentified petroglyph and sunburst

Bird in flight

The deer

Four legged animal.

My students call this one "Fat Bird"

Anthropomorph: Man/Animal with spiritual meaning.

Can you find the anthropomorph in this photo?

To give you a sense of scale.

The rock shelter from the side.

Cross in circle is a repeated motif

Right hand petroglyph

Faded petroglyph: Animal?

Man.

Cross and circle