This is a small pictograph site that we found while exploring a much larger complex in Kawaiisu territory. It consists of only two pictographs in a narrow rock shelter, but it seems to tie in well with the rest of the site. The pictographs at this location all seem to share a common theme.
Let’s have a look!
These pictographs are found on the ceiling of a low rock shelter. This site is in a drainage in the Eastern Sierra, in Kawaiisu territory. The shelter is much too low to be comfortable for sitting in, but the ceiling is blacked, I assume by soot!
The elements are fairly sparse, in red and black. Let’s take a look.
This is a rather nice little panel of pictographs, facing east from its perch on the western side of a low saddle.
The panel is not complete – in several places small flakes of the rock face have exfoliated away, taking the pigment with it. This effect is not very noticeable at first because the style of the panel is unusual, with lots of small, choppy elements interspersed with some well-made Representational elements. At first glance it just seems like the missing parts were intentional. But when you examine the rock face a little more you can tell by the color differences that the panel is exfoliating.