Monday, August 11, 2014

Pictographs

We did some different things in Algonquin Park this summer.  One of the interesting paddles we had was on Rock Lake.  There's a lot of visual interest on Rock Lake with its rocky shores, high cliffs and a wide river at the end that connects to another lake.  It's a fairly large lake too, so the winds kick up quickly.  We've been caught a few times in high waves here and have aborted our plans because of it.
 
This summer we decided to paddle around the lake as it was a nice calm day.  The water was like glass at times, and although it was hot, you can always dip feet and arms into the icy waters to cool down as you paddle along.
 
We wanted to see the pictographs painted on a rocky cliff alongside this lake.  We've seen similar images at Bon Echo campground, and although we knew the pictographs were here on Rock Lake, we'd never paddled over to see them.  The images have been painted on the rock cliffs by aboriginal peoples in the winter time when the lake is frozen .  I'd read that the images were difficult to see now, so we were quite happy to be able to find two fairly clear images when we arrived in our canoe and kayak.  The image is of a god-type creature with human form, but with rabbit-like ears.  The same image has been painted on the rocks at Bon Echo park.


Can you see it there?  Painted in red ...


The second best image was of three lines, almost like claw marks on the rock.  I don't know what they symbolize, and perhaps part of the image has been erased by time.


The pictographs at Bon Echo park are far more extensive, and there are small tours on a steady boat from the park that will take you over to look at them and the guide tells you more history of the paintings.  Sadly the images at Bon Echo are subject to damaging higher waves caused by motor boats.  Outboard motors are limited in size in Algonquin Park, but the images will one day be lost completely here too.
 
 
Thanks for stopping by!
 
Wendy
 
Linking up with Judith's Mosaic Mondays
 
Mosaic Monday


17 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing those wonderful pictures. So very interesting. I am glad you got to see them x

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  2. Sounds like an interesting trip! Awesome rock formations!

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  3. Great photos, must have been a special sight for you! x

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  4. I find these ancient paintings fascinating. Our daughter and family is at Bon Echo now and I think she was going to photograph the pictographs while there from a kayak.
    Thanks so much for linking to Mosaic Monday Wendy.

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  5. What a peaceful way to explore! Always interesting to wonder who painted them and why?

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  6. Very very interesting Wendy. I love hearing about little history mysteries!
    xx Shari

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  7. Amazing pictures Wendy, how lovely to get to see them. :)

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  8. Wendy, what an awesome sight to see! I am glad they have lasted thru all these years..It will be sad to see them gone one day.. Maybe they should keep all the motorized boats away.. Great post and I enjoy the photos. Have a happy week!

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  9. I've seen the rocks from the shore,but never knew about the paintings...how fabulous!
    Jane x

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  10. I am always blown away when I see work on rocks from long ago! Your photos are awesome and what a way to view them in your canoe! A wonderful week to you friend! Nicole xo

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  11. Awesome ! Thanks for your pictures ! love them !

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  12. Lovely area. We visited cliff dwellings last month in New Mexico where there were such pictographs. Sadly, with time and the elements, they are slowly fading away. Have a terrific Tuesday. Tammy

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  13. How interesting! That's a beautiful area.

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  14. Very interesting, and the pictures are fantastic! I wonder what they used for paint that has lasted so long???

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    1. I seem to recall the guide in Bon Echo telling us they used red ochre pigment for the pictographs, and would assume the same pigment was used for these paintings as they look very similar in colour.

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  15. They are wonderful Wendy, how great that you got to see them. Thank you for sharing! xx

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  16. Just catching up here. These are wonderful, I'm so envious that you got to see them.

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment, it's nice to know when you've stopped by! :)

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