Indian God Rock

41.33 - 79.824166666667Koordinaten: 41 ° 19 '48 " N, 79 ° 49' 27 " W

The Indian God Rock (also Indian God Rock Petroglyphs Site, 36VE26 ) is a boulder in the north- eastern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is located near the settlement Brandon in Rockland Township, Venango County.

It is because of the petroglyphs on one of the pages that are Europeans since 1749 known significant cultural monument. Because of these petroglyphs of the stone to the target point by surveyors, tourists and scientists was.

Geology

As one of the many boulders in the Allegheny River in Venango County, Indian God Rock is designed from sandstone and measures approximately 22 × 14 × 10 feet, or 7 × 4 × 4 feet for another measurement. Since sandstone is relatively easy to engrave, the boulder provided a tractable interface for the creation of rock engravings.

History

Among the 55 different figures that are depicted on the rock, there are geometric figures and representations of humans and animals in different positions. Two of the engravings show archers. It is the only known indigenous rock engraving in the Ohio Valley, which represents archers. A scientist pointed out that the similarity between different engraved in the foundling figures and drawings on found birchbark documents indicate that the boulder could have been used by medicine men and the relative absence of warlike subjects show that the people who fabricated these engravings have belonged to a peaceful culture.

The age of the petroglyphs is uncertain. James Swauger, director of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, who examined her first few years after a first visit in 1958, believed that they were, but probably made ​​after the year 900 after 1200, certainly before in 1650. He suspects the ancestors of the Shawnee as author. History of science, the rock is of importance insofar as Swauger was after the visit of this rock to the best knowledge of the petroglyphs in Ohio, Kentucky, the New England states of Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Donald Cadzow, a member of the State Historical Commission, the authors suspected among the Algonquins.

As a terminus ante quem for the creation is the year 1749, because the boulder, and presentation of several members of the French expedition led by Bienville de Celoron (Pierre Joseph de Celeron Blainville ) was seen and reported on this. Here, the boulder for the local Indians apparently had a religious significance. A member of the expedition reported that the accompanying guide " the rock with superstitious awe consideration ". Apart from the review of the boulder and its disregard for the "savages" who had created the engravings, the expedition mounted on two lead plates to leave evidence of their presence. However, they are lost.

In the 19th century, the Indian God Rock has been an attraction for travelers who steamboats on the Allegheny River often stopped to give passengers the opportunity to see the boulder. Not later than the 19th century, the Indian God Rock has suffered alongside the natural erosion by driftwood and consequently weather from vandalism. So already an investigation report from 1887 complains that the name had been scratched.

The figural representations are today partly difficult to see, although until the 1960s, the engravings were traced with chalk - which today is no longer conceivable technique that endangers the objects and obscured the petroglyphs. The same applies to the temporary use of common salt or mud to illustrate the lines. More recently, individuals left with spray paint testimony to their presence and their attitude towards the rock.

Under these circumstances, it was extremely difficult to make the Indian God Rock for fruitful subject of archaeological investigations, should provide the information that include the engravings. As the first in the valley of the Ohio and documented beforschter petroglyphs - boulder he is regarded as the outstanding example of such rock art in the region. The United States Forest Service refers to the rock as the most important of the 75 archaeological sites of Native American cultures in this section of the river that has been designated a National Wild and Scenic River.

It has long been debated whether the contemporary Indians were the author of the works, for they gave no reaction. Edmund Burke Already Dela Barre suspected in 1928 two reasons for this. On the one hand them the works published may be of little importance, and on the other they talked over the non - indigenous researchers reluctantly or not at all about their culture. On 14 May 1984, the National Park Service has taken up the boulder in the National Register of Historic Places.

The boulder, which is visible on the left bank also of vessels on the river from, located on the route of a disused after 1982 route of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. Today, the Middle Allegheny River Water Trail passes near the boulder and the hiker can see the Indian God Rock from a single vantage point. In order to allow an unobstructed view of the rock, without touching it, a wooden platform from Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry in Oil City and the Allegheny Valley Trails Association was to set up. The latter built here also a bike path. Driving forces were Jim Holden, President of the AVTA, and Beverly Chiarulli, President of the Pennsylvania Archeological Council. The carvings of the names that are mostly considered as mere vandalism, were 2000 and 2001 even studied as a historical source, since they reach far back into the 19th century.