petroglyphs

Petroglyphs are images formed by removing part of a rock surface through pecking, carving, or abrading. They are among the oldest forms of human expression and are found on rock faces, boulders, and cliff sides around the world, often in connection with ancient settlements, ceremonial centers, or routes of travel. They are distinct from pictographs, which are images created by applying pigments to the rock surface.

The creation methods include percussion (hammerstones or chisels to chip away), incising (deliberate cutting with a sharp tool), and abrasion (rubbing to wear away). Surfaces may be natural rock faces or prepared panels. Lichen and patination can obscure details, complicating interpretation and dating.

Dating petroglyphs is difficult; they generally predate writing systems and are dated by contextual associations, stylistic comparisons with other artifacts, or indirect techniques such as varnish dating of the rock surface or radiocarbon dating of organic materials in nearby deposits. They range from late prehistoric to historic times in some regions, with regional variability in style and subject matter.

Cultural significance varies but often includes religious or ceremonial functions, territorial markers, or storytelling and memory. Motifs may depict animals, humans, symbols, and abstract designs, reflecting local belief systems, daily life, or cosmologies.

Preservation is a major concern, as petroglyphs are vulnerable to weathering, freeze-thaw cycles, wind erosion, vandalism, and development. Documentation through high-resolution photography, 3D scanning, and GIS is common, and protection measures include fencing, signage, site management, and controlled access to reduce damage.