1. Petroglyphs in Idaho

2. What is a petroglyph?
Petroglyphs are images created by removing part of the
surface of a rock. Most petroglyphs in Idaho were
made by pecking into basalt. Oxidation creates the
variation in color.

3. When were the petroglyphs made?
By using carbon dating, we have been able to estimate
that petroglyphs in Idaho were made up to 12,000
years ago. This type of rock art has been made
continuously into the twentieth century.

4. Can I go see petroglyphs?
X
Yes! There are petroglyphs
throughout Idaho, but they are
X
concentrated along bodies of
water, mostly the Snake River.
The following slides will discuss
some of the better known sites
you could visit, but there are
XX
X many more.

5. Wees Bar
• South of Kuna and 4-5
miles downstream
(northwest) of Swan Falls
Dam.
• Considered one of the
largest petroglyph sites in
Idaho.

6. Celebration Park
• South of Melba.
• Idaho's only archaeological
park.
• Easily Accessible.

7. Map Rock
• West of Melba on highway
45.
• A rock the size of a car.
• Considered to be a map of
the area.

8. Buffalo Eddy
• On both the Lewiston and
Clarkston side of the Snake
River.
• Site has human figures as
well as bison, big horned
sheep, elk, and deer.

9. Lake Pend Oreille
• On the north shore
• Images of bear paws and
abstracts