The Peterborough Petroglyphs
The Peterborough Petroglyphs
The Peterborough Petroglyphs
Petroglyphs and Pictographs from Canada
Western Canadian Rock Art

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada
Rock art in Canada represents the oldest and most prevalent artistic tradition. It can be found throughout Canada, from the Maritimes in the east, the Canadian Shield, the Arctic, the Prairies, and to British Columbia. The Western Canadian Rock Art section, authored by Tyler Dixon and initiating the Canada Rock Art Archive, covers 13 sites found in the southern half of the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.

The rock art sites contain a variety of both pictographs (paintings) and petroglyphs (carvings), and are thought to be linked to shamanism, vision quests, or the search for helping spirits.

Geographical Region

All of the rock art sites listed below are located in western Canada. More specifically, the sites can all be found in the southern half of the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.

Introduction

Tyler Dixon
Tyler Dixon
© Tyler Dixon
Rock art can be classified in two ways; pictographs (paintings) and petroglyphs (carvings), both of which can be found in western Canada. It is believed that rock art is Canada's oldest and most prevalent artistic tradition even though accurately dating many of the sites has proven difficult. Much of the artwork found across the western Canadian provinces can be linked to shamanism, vision quests, or the search for helping spirits. In order to distinguish between different artistic styles, archaeologists have broken the country into broad regions or "style areas" based on geographic location. These include, the Maritimes, the Canadian Shield, the Arctic, the Prairies, and British Columbia. All of the sites listed in this section can be found within the Prairies and British Columbia style areas of the country.

Due to the destruction and slow deterioration of rock art sites, archaeologists with Parks Canada have been tirelessly working with various Aboriginal communities to preserve, protect, and interpret these culturally important sites. One of the project's stated goals is to protect sites using digital photography. The biggest challenge with this, however, is that many sites are disappearing to time, weather, vandalism, or some combination thereof. With the help of a digital enhancement technique known as decorrelation stretch, or DStretch, archaeologists are able to enhance images for better interpretation and understanding. DStretch is a free plugin for ImageJ software that was created by Jon Harman. Both ImageJ and DStretch are available for free download. Many of the photographs included in the section below have been enhanced using DStretch.

Cochrane Ranche Historic Site, Cochrane, Alberta

This site contains a single petroglyph and a single pictograph. The petroglyph depicts the sun, while the pictograph is of a shield-bearing warrior (above). Unfortunately this is all the information I have about the history of this site.

Grotto Canyon, Bow Valley Provincial Park, Alberta

The pictographs found on the smooth canyon walls are estimated to be between 500 and 1,300 years old. There are many interpretations as to who painted them and how they arrived at this location. The most popular theory is that they were created by the Hopituh Shi-nu-mu People (Hopi for short) who visited the area. According to legend, the Hopi sent off members of their tribe in the four directions with the intention of meeting again at a common place, which ended up being present-day Arizona. The artwork depicts both human-like figures and animals. There is also one of the flute player, known as Kokopelli, which is a traditional symbol of the Hopi People. In the Hopi culture the Kokopelli represents the traveler and fertility. It is believed that these pictographs are linked to the ones found near Grassi Lakes (see next entry). Unfortunately most of the paintings have been damaged by weather, time, and people touching them. The oils on our skin will destroy rock art and it's also the reason why the paintings in the photographs look glossy or waxy.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Grotto Canyon, Bow Valley Provincial Park, Alberta
Grotto Canyon, Bow Valley Provincial Park, Alberta
© Tyler Dixon

 
Grassi Lakes, Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, Alberta

As mentioned above the pictographs located near Grassi Lakes are thought to have been painted by the Hopi people. They are estimated to be more than 1,000 years old. One of the pictographs depicts a human figure holding a large ring. It is believed that this figure represents a Medicine Man, which happens to be one of the most famous Hopi legends. The Hopi People believe that Medicine Men were not only healers, but were also considered to be seers and philosophers within their own tribes. The artwork at this site is in better condition than Grotto Canyon, but does show signs of weathering.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Grassi Lakes, Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, Alberta
Grassi Lakes, Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, Alberta
© Tyler Dixon

 
Okotoks Erratic, Okotoks, Alberta

The paintings on the Big Rock near Okotoks are estimated to be anywhere from hundreds to thousands of years old. The Blackfoot People used the rock as a landmark for finding a crossing over the Sheep River before European settlers arrived. There are countless First Nation legends associated with the rock, some of which were relayed through pictographs painted onto its surface. According to local Elders, one such painting depicts a journey. The arrows point in the direction of travel (north), while the moons, or circles, tell the time it took to complete the journey. There are seventeen moons in total, meaning it likely took seventeen months to complete the trek. The symbols and figures at the top of this pictograph may indicate why the journey was made.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Okotoks Erratic, Okotoks, Alberta
Okotoks Erratic, Okotoks, Alberta
© Tyler Dixon

 
Zephyr Creek, Highwood Provincial Recreation Area, Alberta

Archaeologists believe these pictographs are over 300 years old and were painted by either the Kootenai or Salish First Nation People. Due to their isolated location it is believed that these pictographs are from a successful completion of a Vision Quest ceremony. The site was originally home to a large collection of artwork, but a rockslide in 1975 destroyed most of them. Today there are two very distinct paintings with a few more close-by that have been eroded by time and weather.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Zephyr Creek, Highwood Provincial Recreation Area, Alberta
Zephyr Creek, Highwood Provincial Recreation Area, Alberta
© Tyler Dixon

 
Pine Coulee near Nanton, Alberta

There are two common theories about what the pictographs at this site represent. Archaeologists from the Glenbow Museum feel that the pictograph depicts shield-bearing warriors (similar to the one at the Cochrane Ranche Site) before the introduction of horses.

A member of the Blackfoot community, however, feels that the artwork is telling the legend of the Wedding of Napi.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Pine Coulee near Nanton, Alberta
Pine Coulee near Nanton, Alberta
© Tyler Dixon

 
Crowsnest Cave, Crowsnest Lake, Alberta

This site holds great spiritual significance for First Nation people. The cave was known to the Blackfoot People as, "where the Oldman comes out of the mountain", referring to the Oldman River. The entrance to the cave was once covered with pictographs, but sadly today they have been badly vandalized by common graffiti and most are all but indecipherable.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Crowsnest Cave, Crowsnest Lake, Alberta
Crowsnest Cave, Crowsnest Lake, Alberta
© Tyler Dixon

 
Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park, British Columbia

The pictographs found on the canyon walls within Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park were most likely painted by the Shuswap People and are closely related to other sites in the area (i.e. Copper Island, Magna Bay).

These pictographs are believed to have been painted long before the arrival of Europeans and if you search nearby you will find depressions in the ground that were once kekulis, or pit houses; also built by the Shuswap People.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park, British Columbia
Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park, British Columbia
© Tyler Dixon

 
Blake Point in Magna Bay, Shuswap Lake, British Columbia

Like the pictographs in Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park, these are believed to have been painted by the Shuswap People. Unfortunately I do not know anything else about this site, only that it is visible from the water.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Blake Point in Magna Bay, Shuswap Lake, British Columbia
Blake Point in Magna Bay, Shuswap Lake, British Columbia
© Tyler Dixon
Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Blake Point in Magna Bay, Shuswap Lake, British Columbia
Blake Point in Magna Bay, Shuswap Lake, British Columbia
© Tyler Dixon

 
Copper Island, Shuswap Lake, British Columbia

Much like the Magna Bay site, I don't know the history of these pictographs. The island likely held great significance for the Shuswap People and according to legend Ta Lana, the great bear, sleeps under the island in a large cave. Most of the pictographs on the island have been lost to time, weather, and/or vandalism as only faint, red smudges remain.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Copper Island, Shuswap Lake, British Columbia
Copper Island, Shuswap Lake, British Columbia
© Tyler Dixon

 
Michel-Natal (also known as McGillivray Shelter), British Columbia

This site of Michel-Natal in (also known as McGillivray Shelter) in British Columbia has two separate human-like figures that are slowly fading away.

From what I've read these pictographs are typical of traditional Columbia Plateau Art and it is believed they represent dreams and the acquisition of spiritual power, likely obtained during a Vision Quest.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Michel-Natal (also known as McGillivray Shelter), British Columbia
Michel-Natal (also known as McGillivray Shelter), British Columbia
© Tyler Dixon

 
Skaha Lake, Penticton, British Columbia

This site, commonly known as the Braeside Site, is near the shoreline of Skaha Lake. Considering the size of the panel, it is believed that many different people added to this painting over many years. Unlike a lot of paintings that were related to puberty rituals, Braeside may have been a record of a particularly successful hunt or hunts. It's possible that this stretch of Skaha Lake was prime hunting territory and after a successful hunt it was common to stop at Braeside and share their story through art. There is also a theory that involves magic where painting a picture of a successful hunt could help ensure a successful hunt would happen.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Skaha Lake, Penticton, British Columbia
Skaha Lake, Penticton, British Columbia
© Tyler Dixon
Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Skaha Lake, Penticton, British Columbia
Skaha Lake, Penticton, British Columbia
© Tyler Dixon

 
Sproat Lake, Sproat Lake Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Much like the Magna Bay site, I don't know the history of these pictographs. The island likely held great significance for the Shuswap People and according to legend Ta Lana, the great bear, sleeps under the island in a large cave. Most of the pictographs on the island have been lost to time, weather, and/or vandalism as only faint, red smudges remain.

Rock Art Petroglyphs Pictographs Western Canada Sproat Lake, Sproat Lake Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, BC
Sproat Lake, Sproat Lake Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, BC
© Tyler Dixon

 
Additional Information

→ Parks Canada Archaeology
→ DStretch Homepage
→ Rock Art in Canada
→ Historic Canada

About The Author

Name: Tyler Dixon
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Age: 31
Profession: Teacher

Background: I am originally from Saskatchewan, but have called Calgary home for over eight years now. I am a high school teacher with the Calgary Board of Education and my passions lie within the outdoor and physical education fields. I volunteer with the GOT Parks initiative, which aims at reconnecting Canada's youth with our national, provincial, and territorial parks, and Calgary Is Awesome, where I am the Outdoor Editor in charge of reporting everything that makes Calgary's enormous backyard an adventurer's dreamland. In my free time I enjoy numerous outdoor activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, paddling, camping, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding, as well as team sports, travelling, photography, spending time with good friends, and being at home with my wife and our dog, Rome.

→ Blog: http://getmeoutdoors.blogspot.ca/
→ Twitter: http://twitter.com/tcdixon3
→ Instagram: https://instagram.com/tcdixon3/

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→ The Peterborough Petroglyphs
→ Rock Art of Western Canada
→ Writing-On-Stone Áísínai'pi Park
→ Rock Art of Wuikinuxv Territory
→ Dinosaur Provincial Park

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