Petroglyph Point, Lava Beds National Monument, CA
Petroglyph Point is a volcanic formation that used to be an island, located in Tule Lake before it was drained to make farmland in 1920. The petroglyphs carved into the soft volcanic tuff are located where Tule Lake’s water lines used to be, leading to the theory that multiple generations of Modoc artists paddled out to this rock to carve into it, dating back as far as 6000 years. Very few of these petroglyphs represent people or animals, instead depicting geometric shapes & patterns. In 2013, a large section of rock art was badly vandalized, damaging more than 50 petroglyphs. This entire area is peppered with modern initials and graffiti. I’ll never understand the desire to deface these remnants of the indigenous past. With every passing day we grow more out of touch with those who came before us, and these sacred places are some of the only links we have to generations long gone. I’ll spend my life seeking these places out, if only to document them before they’re gone. But with stewardship from those of us who care, these places could be around for generations to come. I hope for that.
