REPORTS OF THE CALIFORNIA ARC HAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, NO. 3 METHODS OF RECORDING AND PRESENT STATUS OF KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING PETROGLYPHS IN CALIFORNIA. Issued May 1, 1949. THE CALIFORNIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY Department of Anthropology University of California Berkeley 4, California METHODS OF RE0RDING AND PRESENT STATUS OF D4OWSILE CONCERNIN 1/ PETROGLYPHS IN CALIFORNIA I. Th rsnt Status of Petrolh hResearch The classic study by Julian Steward (1929) of the petroglyphs of Cali- fornia will form the basis for any future study of the decorated rocks of this state., As a compilation, the 130 petroglyph localities for which he presents data, represent approximately half the sites now known but his great- est contribution lies in the method by which he analyzed the data. This method consists in plotting the distribution of 45 single design elements chosen because they represent "types" of repeated occurrence. His results indicate that certain Uelements have fairly well defined areal extent and a high degree of association. boreover, they tend to group the.-aselve3 accord- ing to general stylistic characteristics" (Steward, 1929, p. 55). In other words, the separate design elements behave like many other elements of culture and can be subjected to the same kinds of historical analysis. This simple demonstration establishes the usefulness of petroglyph data to historical anthro- pology and provides the Justification for continued recording of newly discovered sites. The map presented as figure 1 represents the petroglyph localities now known in California and the areas of closely related petroglyph styles. The lines dividing the areas are in part arbitrary and some sites share features of adjacent areas. ilany design elements, especially the more simple ones are widespread or nearly universal in their distribution, a few are limited to one or another area. Some of the designs of widespread distribution are illustrated in figure 2; numbers 21-40. Area I is essentially that portion of California lying east of the crest of the Sierras. The area is characterized by pecked petroglyphs, generally of simple geometric forms. Individual design elements are usually small but the area covred by petroglyphs my be several acres in extent. Distinctive design elements include: 1buntain sheep (fig. 2; 1), hand and foot prints (fig. 2; 2), snakes (fig. 2; 3), circle chains (fig. 2; 4), the circular grid fig. 2; 5), "sheep horns" (fig. 2; 6), rectangular grids (fig, 2; 7), cross hatching (fig. 2; 8), angular mek1er (fig. 2; 9), bird tracks (fig. 2; 10), and srain symbols" (fig. 2; 11). Area II, the northern Coast Ranges, is characterized by rubbed groove petroglpThs of extremely simple forms occurring on the horizontal faces of boulders or exposed bedrock, usually of steatite. The most distinctive fea- ture of this area is the occurrence of numerous artificial cup shaped depres- sions averaging three inches in diameter, and less than an inch deep. Petroglyph designs are elaborations of these cup shaped depressions (fig. 2; 12). !. In consonance with most recent writers, the word "petroglyph" is used to describe decorated rocks without differentiating between ornamentation produced by pecking and ornamentation produced by painting. L/ Site locations are taken from Steward (1929) with additions from the manuscript by Clarence S. Smith. A Pecked or rubbed pe/rog/yph * Painied petrog/yph AREA I EASTERN CALIFORNIA Ir NORTHERN COAST RANGES N SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA IZ SOUTHERN COAST RANGES AND SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADAS 'A I FIGURE 1. DISTRIBUTION OF PETROGLYPH SITES AND PETROGLYPH STYLE AREAS IN CALIFORNIA A A A A A A 2 W LFLr JF-J- 8 9 10 13 14 15 18 19 20 25 30 _ A^0WV\ 23 24 OCO1> 28 33 29 34 -TTrm 38 39 35 40 FIGURE 2. PETROGLYPH DESIGN ELEMENTS m 6 7 12 17 Is 16 21 *0.e 26 22 27 31 32 36 37 lz?-? 5 I 3 4 0(?) ITTTV /lK -2- Area III, southwestern California, is an area dominated by red painted petroglyphs of geometrical forms in linear arrangement, especially chains of diamonds (fig. 2; 13) and parallel rows of zig-zag lines (fig. 2; 14). These petroglyphs are found on the vertical faces of isolated boulders. The condi- tions under which they are painted have been described (Strong, 1929). Area IV is a region in which petroglyphs are elaborate in design and painted in several colors (red is most common, yellow, black and white are frequent). Design elements are large and the designs usually occur on the vertical faces of rock cliffs. Distinctive elements include: the cogged wheel (fig. 2; 15), concentric bands of different colors (fig; 2; 16), humans with one arm akimbo (fig. 2; 17), humans with exaggerated fingers and toes (fig. 2; 18), the "pelt" (fig. 2; 19), and the centipede (fig. 2; 20). Steward's synthesis is now twenty years old and a considerable amount of new information has been accumulated (see part 2 of the bibliography). Recent detailed surveys of small local areas indicate that the total amount of information now available for study represents a tiny fraction of the data still unrecorded. The following notes are designed to provide a system- atic basis for reporting new data. This paper further constitutes the first of a series of contemplated California Archeological Survey Reports dealing with archaeological method. II. T ete The accompanying form is designed to facilitate the complete and accurate recording of data relating to a particular petroglyph site or to a portion of such a site. Each entry should be filled in as fully as possible and this record should be supplemented by photographs and sketches. The following information is called for by the individual entries: 1. Site.* Fill in the site number or the site name. 2. Cross reference, Mrej record. Refer to the site survey record where- in the ta ed description xnd location of this site is recorded. 3. Face. Where the decorated area is large in extent or complex in the relatt~~hip of orniaented planes, it will be desirable to use more than one of these sheets to d-scribe it. In such a case, the several different areas should be labelled serially, Face 1, Face 2, etc. and each sheet should describe one such face. 4. Dimensions o decorated area. Record the area covered by petroglyphs on this particlari face. 5. Horizontal location, Record the location of the face described on this sheet in Eationsp the total site area. (If the site has been carefully mapped this entry will be a measurement referred to the location of a fixed datum.!) 6. Kind of rock. Define the color and mineralogical identification of the rock n hiht decoration occurs (e.g. Ugray granite", "buff sandstone", etc.). The National Research Council, Division of Geolog ad eograph, ha recently published a 5 by 7j inch set of 115 colors for determining the colors of rocks. This color chart is useful in recording the base color upon which painted designs are applied. Unii 1. 3. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 1-4. 150 rersity of California California Archaeologica:l Survey PETROGLYPH RECORD Site 2. Cross reference survey record_ _________ Face 4. Dimensions of decorated area________________ Horizontal location Kind of rock- Position of rock Method of decoration: pecked ( ) rub~bed grooves ( ) painted( ) other ( ) Colors Design elements Superimposition Natural defacement Vandalism Associated features- Additional remarks 16. Published references 17. Sketch 18. Scale of sketch 19. Photo nos. 20. Recorded by 21. Date 7. Position of rock. The position of the decorated rock should bo described by such terms as "face of vertical cliff", "overhanging roof of rock shelter", or "south face of isolated boulder", etc. 8. Method of decoration. Check the appropriate entry. 9. Colors. The colors of painted petroglyphs should be defined as carefully as possible, preferably by reference to a standard color chart or color diction- ary. A good substitute is the duplication of the original colors with water colors. 10. D gelements. Name, characterize or describe the individual design elements present on the petroglyph face. (The forty design elements illustrated in figure 2 are representative.) 11 Speriosition. Any instance of the overlaying of one design by another shouict-be reoulded Such instances provide the major objective evidence of the relative ages of various petroglyph media and elements. 12. Naua acement. Such natural agencies as spalling off of the surface, wind or water erosion, overgrowth of lichens, etc., which deface the decoration should be recorded. 13. Vandalism. Instances of recent chipping or painting of the petroglyph surface should be noted so that future investigators will not confuse the aboriginal work with newer work. 14. Associated features. Other cultural features found at the petroglyph site should be recorded. For example, small pits in horizontal rock surfaces, presw ly used for grinding pigments are frequently associated with painted petroglyphs in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills. 15. Additional remarks. This entry should be used for any relevant informa- tion not called for on the record form. 16. Nb3.ished references. Cite any published source of information about the petroglyph. 17. Sketch. It the petroglyph face is sketched on the reverse of the record sheet Fit "over". If the sketch is separate, specify. Label all sketches and attach them to the record sheet. 18. Scale of sketch. Indicate the scale of the sketch by a representative fraction (-.I, ral sise, etc.). 19. Photo nos. Record the catalog numbers of the negatives of photographs of this ce7 20. Reored N. Name of the individual who fills out this record. 21. Date. Record the date of filling out the record. -4- III. N dsof_ onPtrolhs At. PhotogE2p& Whenever it is feasible, photography provides the quickest, the least expensive, and the most objective method of copying petroglyphs. A few special techniques have been developed which contribute to the success of such photo- graphy: Color photographs of petroglyphs arc easily made by standard techniques but their usefulness is limited. They are much more expensive than black and white photographs and their usual small size obscures details. Further, they cannot be economically reproduced for publication and cannot be reproduced at all by the cheaper printing methods. They do, however, provide a method of recording the color of multi-colored painted petroglyphs. Generally speaking, the larger the film size used, the greater the amount of detail which will be apparent in the print. Detail is enhanced by the use of a small lens aperture and a long time exposure, hence a tripod is a near necessity in petrogj3yph photography. Petroglyphs pecked in low relief and subsequently exposed to weathering cannot always be distinguished in photographs. The lines of the petroglyph can be prepared so that they will show up in pictures by chalking them in very lightly. (If pastel chalks approximating the hue of the native rock are used, glaring contrasts can be avoided). Never use wax or oil based crayons or oil paint for this purpose and do not use this technique to accentu- ate painted petroglyphs. Painted petroglyphs can seldom be successfully photographed in bright sunlight. Minute surface irregularities of the rock either reflect or shade the light in such a way as to mask the colored lines. Overcast days, or corn plete shadow for the rock face, make for much more satisfactory photographs. Some colors cannot be photographed with orthochromatic film ("Plenacliromel and "Verichrome") because the tones of the colors approximate those of the background rock. It is wise to use panchromatic types of fill in photograph- ing painted petroglyphs. B. Sketc Sketching offers very few problems beyond the requisite draughting ability on the part of the archaeologist. A set of colored pencils is the only necessary equipmnt. The reverse of the Perol h1ecord Form is designed for such sketdhes, the square divisions providing constant control over scale and proportions. The size of the Petroglyph Record Sheet is such as to accomodate a drawing of an area 8' by 10' at a scale of 1/12 or a drawing of an area 4' by 5 at a scale of 1/6, etc. C. Tracing The necessity for a special copying technique arose out of a request from the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Institution River Basin Surveys for an accurate full scale copy of a series of painted petroglyphs which will be inundated by the construction of the Termimus Dam in Tulare County. Here, as at many other petroglyph localities, the designs occur on different planes of a very irregular rock surface and hence, efforts to copy them by photography were unsatisfactory. The method devised, and described below, has the advantage of requiring no draughting ability on the part of the copyists The entire decorated surface of the rock was covered with cellophane sheets which were affixed to the stone by taping at the corners. (The trade brand, "Clearcel", .003, obtainable in 40 inch wide rolls has beern used, but experimentation indicates that much thinner, hence less expensive, grades of cellophane can be used almost equally well). The designs were then traced with appropriate colored pencils of the type designed to be used for writing on glazed surfaces (Dixon, "'Phano"; or Blaisdell, "Cellophane"). The separate sheets were numbered and a grid key was prepared to identify the location of each sheet. The sheets thus prepared are designed to be patterns from which a museum mural may be made but reduced scale copies can be made from them by the use of a pantograph. The colors of the original pigments were duplicated by the use of a small set of water colors and these were identified by a key to the color approximations used on the cellophane. IV. BibliograbX This bibliographic section is divided into two partsl The first part is composed of titles which are either compilations or syntheses of data for large segments of Western North America or are theoretical and comparative in their approach. It is intended that this part provide a comparative back- ground for generalization about California petroglyphs. The second part consists of titles, written since Steward's 1929 synthesis or overlooked by him, which provide specific new data on petroglyphs in California. This part is probably incomplete, particularly as regards unpublished manuscripts but it indicates the quantity and the geographic range of data accumulated in the last two decades. 1. General and S hetic Studies for Western North America Cain, Thomas. Petroglyphs of Washington (in press). University of Washington Publications in Anthropology. Cresaman, L. S. Petroglyphs of Oregon. University of Oregon, Monographs, Studies in Anthropology, no. 2, 1937. Ermmons, George T. Petroglyphs in Southeastern Alaska. American Anthropologist, ns. Vol. 10, pp. 221230. 190&. Erwin, R. P. Rock Writing in Idaho.. Idaho State Historical Society Biennial Report, 12, pp. 35-11. 1930. Gjessing, Gutorm. Guden M1ed Det jne %ye. Saertrykk av Viking, pp. 31-55. 1948. oslo. Heizer, Robert F. Petroglyphs from Southwestern Kodiak Island, Alaska. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol* 91, No. 3, pp. 284-293. 1947. Jackson, A. T. Picture Writing of the Texas Indians. University of Texas Anthropological Papers, No. 2. 1936. Keithan, E., L. The Petroglyphs of Southeastern Alaska. A-merican Antiquity, Vol. VI., No. 2, pp. 123-132. 1940. asseyv William C. Petroglyphs of Baja California (manuscript in author's possession, Berkeley). Ovrer,, W. I. Indian Picture Writing in South Dakota. Archeological Studies Circular IV; University of South Dakota Museum. 1l41. Renaud, E. B. Pictographs and Petroglyphs of the High Western Plains. 8th Report of the Archaeological Survey of the High Western Plaine, Uni- versity of Denver. 1936. Smith, Harlan I. Pictograpnhs on the Lower Skeena, B3ritish Columbia. American Anth.-opologist, Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 611-6615. 1927. Smith, Harlan I. List of Petroglyphs of British Columbia. American Anthro- pologist, Vol. 29, pp. .605610. 1927. Smith, Marian W. Petroglyph Complexes in the History of the Columbia Fraser Region. Southwestern Journal of Anthropology, Vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 306- 322. 1946. Steward, J. H. Petroglyphs of the United States. Snithsonian Institution Annual Report, Publication 3405, pp. 405-425. 1937. Tatuxa, R. Ml. Petroglyphs of Southeastern Colorado., Southwestern Lore, Vol. O, no. 2. 3.9414. Tatum, R. M. Distribution and Bibliography of the Petroglyphs of the United States. American Antiquity, Vol. XII, no. 2, pp. 122-125, 19146. 2. New California Data American Ant-quity brief notes on the occurrence of petroglyphs in California in the following numbers: Vol. 1, no. 1, p. 53; Vol. 2, no. 1, p. 47; Vol. 3, no. 2, p. 184- 186; Vol. 5, no. 1, p. 69. Anonymous. Tulelake Petroglyphs Believed not Ancient. The March of Pine, Vol. 5, no. 5, lamath Falls, Oregon, 19148. (Four useful illustrations.) Bonner, E. C. Petroglyph Sites in Northeastern California. 191h5. Manuscript on file,, hiiversity of California Museuma of Anthropology. (Illustrates four pecked petroglyph sites in !as-en and Aodoc Counties.) Bruff, J. 0. Indian Engravings on the Face of Rocks along Green River Valley (and) in the Sierra Nevada *Range of Mountains. Smithsonian Institution Annual Report for 1872; pp. 409-412, 1873. (Description and illustration of site in Lassen County.) -7- Bruff, J. G. Gold Rush. Columbia University Press, 1944. Vol. II, pp. 1192- 1194 and plates opposite pages 860-361. (Reprint of Bruff cited mmwa with one additional illustration.) Dawson, E. J. Petroglyphs on Tule Lake, Nodoc County. 1929. Manuscript in University of California Museum of Anthropology. (Thirteen figures.) Dunn, He H. The Prehistoric Painter of Poway. Touring Topics, May, 19.30., pp. 36-38, 56. (Petroglyph localities in San Diego County.) Fenenga, Franklin. Archaeological Work of the Sacramento Junior College in Lake County, California. 1.937. Manuscript on file, California Archae- ological Survey. (Illustrates and describes two rubbed groove petrol glyphs at the northwest end of Clear Lake.) Fenenga, Franklin. Archaeology of Terminus Reservoir, Tulare County, California. 1947. Manuscript on file, California Archaeological Survey. (Illustrates elaborate series of painted petroglyphs at one site on the Kaweah River.) Fenenga, Franklin. Work of the California Archaeological Survey in the Isabella Reservoir Area, Kern County, California. 1948. Manuscript on file, California Archaeological Survey. (Illustrates and describes nine painted petroglyph sites and one series of pecked petroglyphs.) Fenenga, Franklin. Work of the California Archaeological 3urvey in the Pine Flat Reservoir, Fresno County, California. 19148. Manuscript on file, California Archaeological Survey. (Illustrates and describes three new painted petroglyph sites.) Fenenga, Franklin and Frances A. PRiddell. The Excavation of Towmr Tucker Cave, Lassen County, California. American Antiquity, Vol. XIV., No. 3, p. 2014. 1949. (Describes painted petroglyph on cave wall.) Frederick, Mf. C. Some Indian Paintings. Land of Sunshine. Vol. 15, pp. 223. 227. 1901. (Near Santa Barbara.) Gayton, A. H. Yokuts and Western Mono Ethnography, Part I. University of California Anthropological Records, vol. 10, no. 1. Esp. p. 113. 1948. (Discusses function of petroglyphs and native attitudes regard- ing theh.) Hewes, Gordon W. Reconnaissance of the Central San Joaquin Valley, American Antiquity, Vol. 7, no. 2, p. 131. 1911 (iientioixs painted and pecked petroglyphs. ) Hitchcock, V. E. Report of Petroglyphic Studies li-de within the Naval Ordnance Test Station, Inyokern. 1946. Manuscript on file, University of California Museum of Anthropol ogy. Hodge, F. W. Picture Writings in Pictograph Cahon, California. The Master- key, Vol. XIII, no. 3, p. 105-106. 1939. Complete manuscript on file, library of Southwest Mluseum. (Description of sites in Inyo County.) -8- Hoffman, W. J. Comparison of Eskimo Pictographs with those of other American Aborigines. Transactions of the Antiropological Society of Washington# Vol* I, 1882, pp. 128 ff. (Illustration and description of petroglyph on the Tule River Reservation.) Hoffman, W. J. Remarks on Aboriginal Art in California and Queen Charlottes Island. Proceedings of the Davenport Acadeut of Science, Vol. 4, pp. 105-122. . 1884. Hoover, M.. G., H. E. Rensch and E. G. Rensch. Historic Spots in California. 1948 edition. (see 13petroglyphs" and "pictographs" in index.) Jaeger, E. C. The California Deserts. Stanford University Press, 1938. pp. 126.127. (Petroglyrhs in Southern California.) MacDougall, D. T. A Decade of the Salton Sea. Geographical Review, Vol. 3, pp. 157-473. 1917. (Discussion and illustration of Travertine Point Petroglyph, Imperial County. ) Massey, W. C. Details of Petrogl-phs in Pine Valley, Ilonterey County. Manuscript in University of California IMseum of Anthropology. Masterkey (Southwest Ikuseuvm), Vol. VI, no. I, p. U-1 and cover. 1932. (Pecked petroglyphs near Coso Hot Springs, Inyo County.) Ileighan, Clement. Survey Report on Coachella Valley Sites. 1948. %nuscript on file, California Archaeological Survey. (Description of one painted petroglyph site in Riverside Cowuty.) 11onyer, George. Indian Picture Writing in Southern California. San Bernardino, 1937. (Describes twenty-one sites in Southerh California.) Orr, Phil C. Hurricane Deck Diorama. YBseum Leaflet, Vol. XVIl, no. 1. 1942. Santa Barbara. (Pictographs and petroglyphs in Santa Barbara County.) Pilling, Arnold. An Archaeological Survey of N114orthern Monterey County. L9408. 1Mnuscript on file, Calfornia -Archaeolorgical Survey. (Illustrates and describes thirteen painted petroglyph sites.) Ross, B. T. A Preliminary Survey of the Petroglyphs of Southern CalWornia. 1938. Manuscript in possession of author, Los Angeles. (Location and description of forty-six sites.) Ruth, Clarence. The Archaeology of Northwestern Santa Barbara County, 1936. fManuscript on file, California Archaeological Survey. (Illustrates painted petroglyphs from one site.) Smith Carence E. Supple-ment -to retroplyphs and Pictographs of California and Adjoining States. 1946. I1anuscript on file, University of California Museum of Anthropology. (Describes sixty sites not mentioned in Steward, 1929.) Smith, Gerald and Mlaxne Smith. Indians of San Bernardino Valley. Redlands, 1939, p. 13. (Location of one petroglyph site.) -9-, Smith, Vernon. Sheep Hunting Artists of Black Canyon Walls. Desert Magazine Mtarch, 1944. (Elaborate pecked petroglyphs in Northern Mojave Desert.) Snyder, C. D. and S. R. Snyder. Petroglyphs of Central Shasta County. 1948. Manuscript on file, California Archaeological Survey. (Illustrates elaborate series of rubbed groove petroglyphs at one site.) Steward, J. H. Words writ on Stone. Touring Topics Vol. 19, pp. 18-20, 36-38, 1927. Steward, J. HI. Ethnography of the Owens Valley Paiute. University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology, Vol. 33, no. 3 pp. 334-335, 1933. (Painted potroglyphs from two sites described.5 Steward, J. H. Petroglyphs of California and Adjoining States. University of California Publications in American Archaeologr and Ethnology, Vol. 24 no. 2, 1929. Strong, W. D. Aboriginal Society in Southern California. University of Califor- nia Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology, Vol. 26, pp. 257 and 299, 1929. (Dcscribes conditions under which some petroglyphs are painted.) Strong, W. D. Archaeological Exploration in the Country of the Eastern Chumash. ECloration and Field Work of the Smithsonian Institution in 1934, pp. 69- 72, 1935. (Large red painted petroglyph in flanzana CaTion, fig. 66.) Swift, R. H. Prehistoric Paintings at Santa Barbara. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences, no. 30, pp. 35-38, 1931. Tregansa, Adan E. An Archaeological Reconnaissance of Northeastern Baja California and Southeastern California. American Antiquity, Vol. 8, no. 2, p. 160.161, 1942. (Location of four painted petroglyph sites and one pecked petroglyph site in San Diego County.) Tregansa$ Adan E. The "Ancient Stone Fish Traps"t of the Coachella Valley Southern California. American Antiquity, Vol. 10, pp. 2&5_294., 19L5. (Travertine Point petroglyphs; cf. MacDougall, 1917.) Turner, H. W, Downievifle Folio. Folio No. 37 of the United States Geological Survey. (Pecked petroglyph site in Sierra County.) Voeglin, E. W. Tubatulabal Ethnograply, University of California Anthropological Records, Vol. 2, no. 1, p. 58 and figs. 13, 14, 1938. (Location of seven painted petroglyph sBtes, illustrations of figures from two sites.) Van Blon, John L. Rock Writings of the Owens Valley. Touring Topics 21: no. 5, pp. 14-17, 51. 1929. Yates, L. G. Indian Petroglyphs in California. Overland Monthly, 2nd Series, Vol. 28, pp. 657-661, 1896. Yosemite School of Field Natural History. Yearbook of 1934. Manuscript in Yosemite National Park Library. (Describes and illustrates painted petroglypha on Tuolumne River,.) FRAIUEIN FENNGA Archaeologist California Archaeological Survey