Indian God Rock
Indian God Rock Petroglyphs Site (36VE26) | |
Location | Southern side of the Allegheny River, Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States[2] |
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Nearest city | Brandon |
Coordinates | 41°19′48″N 79°49′27″W / 41.33000°N 79.82417°W |
Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
Built | 1200 |
NRHP reference No. | 84003585[1] |
Added to NRHP | May 14, 1984 |
Indian God Rock is a large boulder in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Located near the unincorporated community of Brandon, it lies along the Allegheny River in Venango County's Rockland Township. It is significant for the large petroglyph on one of its sides.[3]: 2, 3 Because of the petroglyph, the rock has been an explorers' landmark, a tourist attraction, and an object of scholarly investigation.
Geology
One of many large boulders lining the banks of the Allegheny River in Venango County, Indian God Rock is composed of sandstone and measures approximately 22×14×10 feet,[4] or 7×4×4 meters by another measurement.[3]: 7 As sandstone is an easy material to carve,[5] the rock was an ideal surface for the creation of rock art.[3]: 7
Early history
Among the fifty-five different figures present on Indian God Rock include geometric shapes and depictions of humans and animals in a range of positions.
The date of the petroglyph is uncertain; it is believed to have been carved at some point after AD 900, but most likely after 1200. The
Modern history
External videos | |
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Weird Engravings of Indian God Rock - Petroglyphs Of Pennsylvania, Phenomenal Travel Videos[7] |
Deterioration
In recent decades, the Indian God Rock has suffered significantly from erosion and vandalism.[3]: 2 Since the nineteenth century, visitors have cut their names into the rock, and recent years have seen the use of spray paint by some individuals. Although archaeologists have highlighted the carvings in the past,[4] the figures are now somewhat difficult to see.[3]: 2
Recognition
In the twentieth century, Indian God Rock became the object of significant archaeological investigation for the information potential of its carvings. Its place as the first Ohio River valley petroglyph to appear in written records and the continued scholarly attention to its carvings has caused it to be seen as the premier example of monumental rock art in its region.[3]: 5 The United States Forest Service has recognized the rock as one of the most significant of the seventy-five Native American archaeological sites in the portion of the Allegheny River that has been designated a National Wild and Scenic River.[4] In 1984, it was further recognized when the National Park Service added it to the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
Accessibility
In 1982, the rock lay on the
See also
References
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Indian God Rock
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Cowin, Verna L. (April 15, 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form: Indian God Rock Petroglyphs Site (36VE26)" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f Hopey, Don. "Heavy History". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 15 April 1993. C1, C2.
- ^ Archaeology Education Program Archived 2012-03-06 at the Wayback Machine. 22:1 (Winter 2004). Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. Accessed 2009-12-08.
- ^ a b Swauger, James L. Rock Art of the Upper Ohio Valley. Graz: Akademische Druck- und Verlagsanstalt, 1974.
- ^ "Indian God Rock - Forgotten Petroglyphs Of Pennsylvania". Phenomenal place.com. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ^ Middle Allegheny River Water Trail - Trail Guide, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Accessed 2009-12-08.
Further reading
- Geyer, Alan R. and William H. Bolles. Outstanding Scenic Geologic Features of Pennsylvania. Environmental Geology Report EG7, Part 1. Fourth Pennsylvania Geological Survey: 1979.
- Swauger, James L. Rock Art of the Upper Ohio Valley. Graz: Akademische Druck- und Verlagsanstalt, 1974.