Hemet Maze Stone facts for kids
The Hemet Maze Stone is a very old carving made on a rock. It's called a petroglyph, which means a design carved into a rock. You can find it near Hemet in Riverside County, California. In 1956, the stone and its land were given to Riverside County. It's now a special place called a California Historical Landmark, number 557. There are fences around the stone to protect it. The area around the stone is also protected. It's home to many native plants and animals.
Quick facts for kids Hemet Maze Stone |
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Maze Stone with plaque
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| Location | Outside Hemet in Reinhardt Canyon |
| Reference no. | 557 |
33°46′54″N 117°03′23″W / 33.78167°N 117.05639°W
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The Hemet Maze Stone, seen from above. The maze is about 24 inches (61 cm) wide.
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A drawing that shows what the Maze Stone pattern might look like as a building.
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This diagram shows two simple square or rectangle shapes that can be found in the Maze Stone pattern.
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This diagram shows two more complex, maze-like shapes found in the Maze Stone pattern.
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What the Maze Stone Looks Like
The main part of the "maze" has two rectangle shapes. One is larger and holds the other one inside it, right in the middle. If you trace the lines, you'll see two connected patterns that look like a maze. One maze is inside the other on the left side.
The Swastika Symbol
You might see a swastika symbol in the bottom left corner of the stone. This symbol was not part of the original carving. Old photos from the 1930s show the stone without it. Someone added the swastika after 1956, when the stone became a landmark.
It's important to know that this swastika is not the same as the one used by the Nazis in Germany. The Nazis used a different version that spun clockwise. The swastika symbol has been used in art by many cultures, including Native American and Asian cultures, for thousands of years before it became linked to Adolf Hitler.
Understanding the Maze Pattern
The carving on the stone can be seen as four different areas or "walled structures." There are two simple shapes and two more complex, maze-like shapes. Each type has an inner and an outer part.
Looking at diagrams, the simple shapes are like a black outer square and a gray or beige inner rectangle. The more complex shapes are shown in blue (outer) and purple (inner). The purple shape is completely surrounded by the blue one. The inner shapes are always surrounded by the outer ones.
The diagram was made by guessing from pictures. The original carving is on a slightly curved stone. It's a mystery why the ancient people chose this design.
What Was the Maze Stone For?
The true meaning of the Hemet Maze Stone is still a mystery today. We don't know why it was created. It's not like a regular maze where you try to find your way from a start to an end. The design has features that don't fit a typical maze.
It's hard to tell if the maze was meant to be:
- An engineering drawing
- A special symbol
- A piece of art
- Something else entirely
This type of rock carving is known as "California Engraved." It's part of the "California Tradition" of rock art.
- Coordinates: 33°46′54″N 117°03′23″W / 33.78167°N 117.05639°W
