Petit Jean State Park is the oldest state park in Arkansas. It is located in the central northern part of the state, in western Conway County, atop Petit Jean Mountain, a ridge between the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. One of the features the park is noted for is prehistoric rock art, some of which is accessible to park visitors via its hiking trails. A total of twelve such sites have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places for their importance.[1] Most of the rock art has been dated to about 1500 CE, and is not obviously associated with habitation sites or other sites bearing evidence of other Native American activities.
Rockhouse Cave is the largest documented site in the park. It is accessible via the Rock House Cave Trail off Arkansas Highway 154. The cave, actually just a partially covered rock shelter, has faint pictographs on the ceiling near the rear of the shelter.[2] The images are similar to those found at other sites in the park, and include an anthropomorphic figure.[3]
Indian Caveedit
This site has the largest number figures in the park after Rockhouse Cave. Also a rock shelter, the paintings found here are typical of the distinctive style now designated the "Petit Jean style".[4]
Grottoedit
The Grotto is located on the Seven Hollows Trail, south of Highway 154.[2] The site includes an anthropomorphic figure and one that appears to be a quadruped of some sort.[5]
Hardison Shelteredit
The Hardison Shelter site contains an unusually large number of sun motif depictions. This symbol, either circular or spiraled, is a common feature found in many Arkansas rock art sites, and is typically associated with the Mississippian culture.[6]
Other sitesedit
The Seven Hollows/Petit Jean Mountain Site #1 (designated by the Smithsonian trinomial 3CN168) consists of three pictographs that have experienced only minimal weathering.[7] Petit Jean #4 (3CH125) is a pictograph depicting a beaver.[8] Petit Jean #5 (3CN126) is a highly abstract pictograph where it is unclear exactly what it represents.[9] Petit Jean #6 (3CN127) has rayed pictographs that are stylistically similar to those found in the Pictograph Cave in Stone County, a connection that is not well understood.[10]
Petit Jean #7 (3CN128) is a pictograph with a round or oval shape, surrounded by dots. It is similar to other pictographs in the park, and may be a variant of a sun motif.[11] Petit Jean #9 (3CN130) is under a rock overhang, and has a spiral motif that is common across the eastern United States.[12] Petit Jean #10 (3CN131) is a series of painted concentric circles.[13] Petit Jean #11 (3CN132) has an elongated sunburst pattern, and a pattern of wavy lines.[14]
^ ab(PDF). Petit Jean State Park. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
^"Summary description of Rockhouse Cave, Petit Jean #2". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
^"Summary description of Indian Cave, Petit Jean #1". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
^"Summary description of Grotto, Petit Jean #8". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
^"Summary description of Hardison Shelter Site". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
^"Summary description of Seven Hollows/Petit Jean Mountain Site #1". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
^"Summary description of Petit Jean #4". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
^"Summary description of Petit Jean #5". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
^"Summary description of Petit Jean #6". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
^"Summary description of Petit Jean #7". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
^"Summary description of Petit Jean #9". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
^"Summary description of Petit Jean #10". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
^"Summary description of Petit Jean #11". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
April 15, 2024
archaeological, sites, petit, jean, state, park, petit, jean, state, park, oldest, state, park, arkansas, located, central, northern, part, state, western, conway, county, atop, petit, jean, mountain, ridge, between, ozark, ouachita, mountains, features, park,. Petit Jean State Park is the oldest state park in Arkansas It is located in the central northern part of the state in western Conway County atop Petit Jean Mountain a ridge between the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains One of the features the park is noted for is prehistoric rock art some of which is accessible to park visitors via its hiking trails A total of twelve such sites have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places for their importance 1 Most of the rock art has been dated to about 1500 CE and is not obviously associated with habitation sites or other sites bearing evidence of other Native American activities Rockhouse Cave Petit Jean No 2U S National Register of Historic PlacesThe Rock HouseLocationPetit Jean State Park Conway County ArkansasArea0 1 acres 0 040 ha MPSRock Art Sites in Arkansas TRNRHP reference No 82002110 1 Added to NRHPMay 4 1982 Contents 1 Rockhouse Cave 2 Indian Cave 3 Grotto 4 Hardison Shelter 5 Other sites 6 See also 7 ReferencesRockhouse Cave editRockhouse Cave is the largest documented site in the park It is accessible via the Rock House Cave Trail off Arkansas Highway 154 The cave actually just a partially covered rock shelter has faint pictographs on the ceiling near the rear of the shelter 2 The images are similar to those found at other sites in the park and include an anthropomorphic figure 3 Indian Cave editThis site has the largest number figures in the park after Rockhouse Cave Also a rock shelter the paintings found here are typical of the distinctive style now designated the Petit Jean style 4 Grotto editThe Grotto is located on the Seven Hollows Trail south of Highway 154 2 The site includes an anthropomorphic figure and one that appears to be a quadruped of some sort 5 Hardison Shelter editThe Hardison Shelter site contains an unusually large number of sun motif depictions This symbol either circular or spiraled is a common feature found in many Arkansas rock art sites and is typically associated with the Mississippian culture 6 Other sites editThe Seven Hollows Petit Jean Mountain Site 1 designated by the Smithsonian trinomial 3CN168 consists of three pictographs that have experienced only minimal weathering 7 Petit Jean 4 3CH125 is a pictograph depicting a beaver 8 Petit Jean 5 3CN126 is a highly abstract pictograph where it is unclear exactly what it represents 9 Petit Jean 6 3CN127 has rayed pictographs that are stylistically similar to those found in the Pictograph Cave in Stone County a connection that is not well understood 10 Petit Jean 7 3CN128 is a pictograph with a round or oval shape surrounded by dots It is similar to other pictographs in the park and may be a variant of a sun motif 11 Petit Jean 9 3CN130 is under a rock overhang and has a spiral motif that is common across the eastern United States 12 Petit Jean 10 3CN131 is a series of painted concentric circles 13 Petit Jean 11 3CN132 has an elongated sunburst pattern and a pattern of wavy lines 14 See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in Conway County ArkansasReferences edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b Park Trails Map PDF Petit Jean State Park Archived from the original PDF on March 28 2016 Retrieved March 30 2016 Summary description of Rockhouse Cave Petit Jean 2 Arkansas Preservation Retrieved March 30 2016 Summary description of Indian Cave Petit Jean 1 Arkansas Preservation Retrieved March 30 2016 Summary description of Grotto Petit Jean 8 Arkansas Preservation Retrieved March 30 2016 Summary description of Hardison Shelter Site Arkansas Preservation Retrieved March 31 2016 Summary description of Seven Hollows Petit Jean Mountain Site 1 Arkansas Preservation Retrieved March 31 2016 Summary description of Petit Jean 4 Arkansas Preservation Retrieved March 31 2016 Summary description of Petit Jean 5 Arkansas Preservation Retrieved March 31 2016 Summary description of Petit Jean 6 Arkansas Preservation Retrieved March 31 2016 Summary description of Petit Jean 7 Arkansas Preservation Retrieved April 2 2016 Summary description of Petit Jean 9 Arkansas Preservation Retrieved April 2 2016 Summary description of Petit Jean 10 Arkansas Preservation Retrieved April 2 2016 Summary description of Petit Jean 11 Arkansas Preservation Retrieved April 2 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Archaeological sites in Petit Jean State Park amp oldid 1168885977, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
