AMERICAN INDIAN ROCK ART ON THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER

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AMERICAN INDIAN ROCK ART ON THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER

Sat, April 30, 2pm – 3pm

	SRAC - 345 Broad Street, Waverly, NY map

As many of you might recall, I wrote a couple of articles about my studies of the Algonquin mounds found in Ohio and Wisconsin and their counterparts in design that have been found along the Susquehanna River in Southern PA. It is my hope that one day we will be able to prove that the Fort Ancient culture who not only made these waterspirit, thunderbird, and horned man shapes as a part of their belief system, but they passed through our region, along the Susquehanna River. (click here to read my articles that compare the PA rock art to the Midwestern mounds)

Here are just a couple of examples:

Petroglyphs in PA:

Mounds in Midwest:

Here is a little movie that shows PA Historic Commission members at some of the petroglyphs that are found at the Safe Harbor site: (just click the play arrow on the player below)

trouble playing video? click here.

With that, I am proud to announce that national renowned author, archaeologist and rock art specialist, Ed Lenik will be at SRAC on April 30th to discuss American Indian rock art found along the Susquehanna River. Ed has been a good friend of mine and SRAC since 2005, when he actually was one of the first people to take notice of the Spanish Hill amulet which is now on display in the SRAC exhibit hall. In fact, Ed's analysis of it is a part of the display. I must say though that when it comes to the mound / petroglyph discussion, the last time I knew, Ed was still not convinced - but as any researcher who is in search for the truth - I am proud to have him come to SRAC and discuss his research and findings as well. My hope is that all of you that have this same goal to try to uncover our ancient past will also find this presentation to be a must see event.

Ed's description of his presentation is as follows: "In the last half of the nineteenth century, petroglyphs were discovered on several small islands within the lower Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The images and designs found at petroglyph sites were probably common in prehistoric societies. Many were likely portrayed in wood, basketry and clothing. However, these types of artifacts practically never survive in the archaeological contexts of Eastern North America. Therefore, these petroglyph images give us our only direct window into the minds of prehistoric humans on the Susquehanna River.

Three petroglyph sites occur near Safe Harbor in Lancaster County: one on Walnut Island upriver from the Safe Harbor Hydroelectric Dam, a second group on Cresswell Rock a mile and one-half up river from Walnut Island, and a third group on Big and Little Indian Rocks and other smaller rocks below the dam. In Maryland about three miles below the Pennsylvania state line, the Bald Friar petroglyphs were located on several small islands in the river. Three distinct styles of images occur within these sites.

The Walnut Island, Cresswell Rock and Bald Friar petroglyph sites are now submerged under lakes created by the Safe Harbor and Conowingo Hydroelectric Dams. The petroglyphs below Safe Harbor Dam are extant. Beginning in the 1860s and continuing into the twentieth century several efforts were made by several researchers to record the glyphs and salvage specimens of the carvings. This presentation will illustrate the various images at these four sites, trace their history and suggest an interpretation of the origin and meaning."

Anyone that has any ancient rockart or artifacts with artwork carved into them are invited to bring them to this event for Ed to look at and try to give you any information he might have about them.

General admission is $6 with SRAC and students $4. This admission donation also includes a free entrance to the SRAC exhibit hall.