Greaser Petroglyph Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Greaser Petroglyph Site
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Greaser Canyon petroglyphs
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| Location | Warner Valley, Lake County, Oregon, USA |
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| Nearest city | Lakeview, Oregon, USA |
| Built | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Prehistoric rock art |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002293 |
| Added to NRHP | 1974 |
The Greaser Petroglyph Site is a special place in eastern Lake County, Oregon. It's managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Here, you can find ancient drawings carved into a large basalt rock. These designs were made by Native Americans a very long time ago, possibly as far back as 12,000 years! We don't know what all the designs mean. Because this site is so important for history and culture, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Ancient Rock Art in Oregon
People have lived in southeastern Oregon for at least 15,000 years. This was discovered in 2012 at the Paisley Caves. Back then, many high desert areas had large lakes. We don't know much about these early people, except that they camped and hunted near these lakes. The oldest rock carvings in southeastern Oregon might be as old as 15,000 years, or even older!
Around 1840, when the first European-American settlers arrived, the Northern Paiute tribe lived in this area. This included the Fort Bidwell Band and the Harney Valley Band. However, since the carvings are so old, it's possible that the Northern Paiute people were not the ones who made them.
The true meanings of the Greaser petroglyphs are still a mystery. They might have been used in important ceremonies. Or perhaps they marked tribal land. Some think they could have been maps or even just personal stories told through art. No one knows for sure!
Protecting These Ancient Carvings
Ancient rock art sites like Greaser Petroglyph Site are very valuable for understanding history. They are also important to Native American cultures. Because of this, sites on federal land are protected. Many government-owned petroglyph sites are called "Areas of Critical Environmental Concern." This helps make sure they are kept safe and preserved.
Some sites are extra special for studying prehistory or for their cultural meaning. These are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Greaser Petroglyph Site was added to this list on November 20, 1974, because of its unique history and cultural importance.
Sadly, the Greaser petroglyphs have been damaged by vandals at least once. But Bureau of Land Management archaeologists were able to fix the damage. Today, there's a sign that warns visitors. It explains that changing the petroglyph designs is against federal law and can ruin these amazing ancient artworks.
Where to Find the Greaser Petroglyphs
The Greaser Petroglyph Site is about 28 miles (45 km) east of Lakeview, Oregon. It's located in the Warner Valley, near Greaser Canyon. This is about 5 miles (8 km) east of the small community of Adel.
The petroglyphs are carved on a large basalt boulder that faces southwest. It's about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) north of Oregon Route 140. The protected area around the carvings is about 9 acres (3.6 ha) of open land. This land is owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
