Meadow Lake Petroglyphs



Meadow Lake Petroglyphs

Introduction

This paper is based on the archaeological study of past cultures and the living styles of early people. This study involves the examination of artifacts, prehistoric archaeological objects, and prehistoric archaeological sites. These facts are normally covered with the dust, or they are found buried in the ground and archaeologists excavate them and conduct a research over them and find out the history.

Discussion

Site Name, Dimensions, and other Information

This paper represents the overview of prehistoric rock art sites or petroglyphs that were found in Northern Sierra Nevada of California. These petroglyphs are classified as Style 7 Representational Petroglyphs. There are total ninety two art sites of Style 7 has been discovered.

The name of the site under consideration is Meadow Lake Petroglyph Site in Northern Sierra Nevada, California. According to Payen, these rock art sites are extended over a broad region California from Plumas and Butte Counties to Mariposa County and from California Nevada to Central Valley. He divided all the rocks in to seven styles. Classification was based on the type of rock, environmental setting, archaeological association and the distribution (1966). Payen and Scott highlighted the evidence of hunting, tool manufacturing and gathering from those petroglyphs sites (1982). Meadow Lake Petroglyphs are scattered on the elevation of 7400 ft in the Sierra Nevada. Meadow Lake has the large concentration on petroglyphs which are situated in glaciated boulders and bedrocks. This is the widest rock art sites discovered up till now which contains about 75 panels with around 500 elements. The rock site is classed as the style 7 which is characterized by lines, waves, circles, complex motifs and historic inscriptions of early 1900s.

Archaeological investigation Design

Description

The first research on the rock art was conducted by Mallery in early 19th century in 1893. However, that was just about the discovery of rock art in California and adjoining states. The comprehensive research on the petroglyphs was undertaken by Louis Payen in 1966. He conducted an extensive investigation on the petroglyph rock art and identified 133 rock art sites that were dispersed all over the distinctive region of California. He grouped all the petroglyphs into two main groups that are Pit Groove and the Abstract Representation. After that, he did all the major classification of rock art based on their distinct attributes, subject matter, environmental setting, rock type, and archaeological connections. These rock arts then further classified into seven different styles. According to the findings, all of the seven rock art site's styles are defined, named and numbered by Louis.

Style 1 sites: this style is named as pitted boulders which are placed on cup shaped pits on round boulders. These sites have been found on the northern side of Nevada.

Style 2 sites: this style is named as the pit and groove. These sites are found in the forms of clusters and in random patterns. These sites show random dots or grooves or pits. They were found inside the caves.

Style 3 sites: this style is named as the complex pit and ...