Tag Archives: Ghost Dance Movement

Indian Wells Canyon Pictographs – “Mandala Pictographs”

This second pictograph shelter in Indian Wells Canyon is located about a mile and a third westerly of the “Cradleboard” pictograph site. It sits on a steep hillside and is surrounded by some undergrowth, making it difficult to see until you draw close.

The view out of the shelter, showing the mortars ground into the large flat boulder.

The view out of the shelter, showing the mortars ground into the large flat boulder.

The shelter itself is quite large, in excess of 20 feet across, and partially protected by a large, flattish boulder tucked under the overhang. There is enough room between the top of this boulder and the overhang ceiling to sit and enjoy an expansive overview of the valley below. Bedrock mortars atop this boulder attest to the fact that this was also considered a good idea many years ago.

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Indian Wells Canyon Pictographs – “Cradleboard” Pictographs

There are two pictographs sites in Indian Wells Canyon, this one and the “Mandala” one. In terms of elements present, this is the smaller of the two.

A quick word on Indian Wells Canyon: although the lower portions of the canyon are accessible by a rather fine dirt road, that road deteriorates quickly as you ascend the canyon. Some bumpy, overgrown sections are best NOT attempted in passenger vehicles. Additionally, the higher reaches are braided by several roads and picking the wrong one will quickly lead you into bad driving conditions.

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“Solo Sheep” Pictograph

This site is about 300 or so yards east from the “Ghost Dance” pictograph site, at a somewhat higher elevation.

Unlike the “Ghost Dance” site, which is isolated, this site is on the edge of a prehistoric Tübatulabal habitation site, as shown by extensive lithic scatter and bedrock mortars.

A view of the small opening at the back of the shallow shelter that hosts the pictograph. Note the soot streaks on the ceiling of the shelter.

A view of the small opening at the back of the shallow shelter that hosts the pictograph. Note the soot streaks on the ceiling of the shelter.

The pictograph is located in a small shelter at the upper edge of the habitation site. The shelter shows extensive soot deposits from fire. The ceiling of the area with soot deposits is not very tall, and the lip of the shelter extending beyond the soot affected area is probably too shallow to have made it a good habitation area.

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“Ghost Dance” Pictographs

This site was quite a challenge to find, being out of the way and located on a single boulder in an area with many, many boulders.

The pictographs are under the overhang on the boulder to the right.

The pictographs are under the overhang on the boulder to the right.

After first finding it on an overcast day, I then had the painful experience of being stuck with photos that didn’t really come out, so I had to trek back one last time.

The site sits above a small ephemeral drainage that in turn feeds into an east-west running seasonal creek.

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