Make Your Own Petroglyph! Introduction Petroglyphs are rock paintings made by ancient Native People all over the world. Petroglyphs have been found in virtually every contenent, including North America. Petroglyphs made by the Serrano Indians and their ancestors have been found in the Mojave Desert and in areas near Barstow. Ancient people made petroglyphs for many reasons. These petroglyphs were religious symbols, decorations, and a sort of historical record of life before Europeans came to North America. The Task In this activity you will create your own petroglyph. Before you begin painting your rock though, you will need to research petroglyphs on the Internet. Your petroglyph will be based on your observations and the information you find through online reearch. Step 1: Make sure you have a copy of the About Petroglyphs Worksheet. Visit the following websites to find more information about petroglyphs. Use the information you find to complete the Petroglyph Worksheet. Petroglyphs in the Mopah Mountain Range Contemporary Approaches to World Rock Art Photos of Native American Petroglyphs Petroglyphs and Rock Art From Around the World James Q. Jacobs Rock Art Home Page California Rock Art
Step 3: Using the My Own Petroglyph worksheet, describe how your petroglyph represents your school or community and how it differs from the petroglyphs made by the Serrano Indians. |
Now that you know all about petroglyphs, make a petroglyph of your own! Your petroglyph should depict plants, animals, people and places in your community or school. This is an example of what your glyph might look like.