Old Joe (Norfork, Arkansas) facts for kids

Old Joe is a special place in Arkansas where you can find ancient rock art. It's located near a town called Norfork in Baxter County, Arkansas. This site shows us paintings made by people who lived there a very long time ago.

The art at Old Joe is painted on a rock wall. It helps us learn about the history and culture of early people in the area.

What is Old Joe?

Old Joe is a prehistoric rock art panel. This means it's a rock surface with paintings or carvings made by people from ancient times. The art at Old Joe is made up of two main shapes. They were painted using a red color, which was likely made from natural materials.

Discovering Ancient Art

These paintings are very old. They give us clues about the people who lived in Arkansas many centuries ago. Archaeologists, who are like history detectives, study these sites. They learn about how ancient people lived, what they believed, and how they expressed themselves through art.

What Do the Paintings Look Like?

One of the figures at Old Joe is a round shape. It has five lines pointing upwards from it. This figure is about 21 centimeters (8 inches) tall and 16 centimeters (6 inches) wide. It might remind you of a sun or a star.

The other figure is also a simple round shape. It measures between 19 and 21 centimeters (7 to 8 inches) across. Interestingly, the first figure, the one with the rays, looks very similar to another painting found further down the White River. This suggests that different groups of ancient people might have shared similar ideas or symbols.

Why is Old Joe Important?

Old Joe is an important historical site. Because of its value, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This is a special list of places in the United States that are important to our country's history. Being on this list helps protect the site. It makes sure that this ancient art can be preserved for future generations to study and enjoy.