Discovering South Carolina's Rock Art

Conclusion

Conclusion Ater nine years of periodic survey, a reasonable pro0le of South Carolina’s rockart sites has been established. Sixy-one petroglyph sites and three pictograph sites have been recorded. Although other rock-art sites will surely be discovered, it appears unlikely that the present paxern of distribution will be drastically altered. `e major iy of rock art believed to be prehistoric was discovered in the northwestern portion of the Piedmont and the adjacent Blue Ridge Mountains. Presently no explanation is forthcoming for the pauciy of prehistoric rock art on the southern, eastern, and lower western Piedmont, where rock amenable to the practice is also abundant. Historic petroglyphs are more widely distributed across the Piedmont and mountains. Because petroglyphs and pictographs are individually created, each is unique. Comparing the prehistoric rock art of South Carolina with that of Georgia and North Carolina has revealed few similarities. As a rule, the recorded petroglyphs of those wo states are much more elaborate, more boldly carved, and more visible than most of the South Carolina petroglyphs discovered so far. It seems logical that rock art similar to that found in states immediately adjacent to South Carolina should also occur in this state, but other than the utilitarian circle-and-line petroglyphs and a few cupules, lixle has been found that is similar in form or motif to rock art of the region or the rest of the nation. `e reason for this is unclear. It is possible that rock art in adjacent states is more recent and therefore relects diferent cultural traditions . It is also possible that those states have rock art similar to ours that is yet to be discovered. Most of our lowland petroglyphs were found on dark rainy days or by examining rocks at night with lights. I am unaware that these survey methods have been tried in Georgia or North Carolina, and if they should be, perhaps motifs simi lar to those in South Carolina might be found. Based on our observations in the 0eld, we concluded that the prehistoric rock art of South Carolina is well on its way to extinction, threatened not only by forces of nature but also by economic and population growth and the subsequent expansion of facilities necessary to maintain it. If hard evidence is needed to support the urgency of recording the remaining South Carolina rock art, it has been demonstrated by the 116 Discovering South Carolina’s Rock Art known destruction of eight petroglyph sites in recent years—before they were documented . Informed of a petroglyph located immediately beside a small stream in Pickens Couny, we contacted the landowner to ask permission to visit the site. He con0rmed that a rock with “markings” had indeed existed on his propery, but we were also told that the petroglyph had recently been destroyed as he altered the landscape to construct a pond. Another person reported carvings on a large boulder beside a modest stream in Pickens Couny. He said there were several diferent carvings on the rock: a half circle, an arrowlike motif, and some abstract forms. Visiting the site, we found the boulder boxom side up in the stream, where it had been pushed by a bulldozer clearing land. It was now impossible to see whatever may have been carved on it. Locals had called the rock “the natural bridge” because it had protruded out over the creek.`e informant, nearing eighy years of age, said his grandparents knew of these petroglyphs , but they had no idea who may have carved them. A trek to another reported rock carving did result in the recording of a petroglyph , site 38SP337 in Spartanburg Couny. Immediately adjacent to this glyph, the landscape had been altered by land clearing, and my host said that close by within the cleared tract there had been another petroglyph. `e rocks were badly damaged by bulldozers and eforts to locate any remaining portions of the glyph were futile.`e petroglyph we did record was later removed during additional clearing for house construction. Its current status is unknown. We received a request to visit Spartanburg Couny and inspect several petroglyphs known to a local family. While the 0rst site was still intact, we found that we had recorded it earlier when it was reported by another person (38SP336). At the second potential site, however, we found that a new housing development was now spread over the area and that a dam had been constructed to create a communiy pond. `e rock carving...