Rock art of eastern Maine facts for kids

Holmes Point is a special place in East Machias, Maine, known for its ancient rock art. This art was made by Native American people long ago, showing us how they lived and what was important to them. Many of these sites, including Holmes Point, are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places because they are so important to history.

Ancient Art in Maine

The eastern part of Maine is famous for its very old and important rock art. This area, especially the shores and islands around Machias Bay, has one of the largest collections of rock art on the East Coast of North America. Some of these artworks are estimated to be as old as 1000 BCE, which is over 3,000 years ago! They were created by Native American people who lived in this region.

Rock Art by the Shore

Machias Bay is a large inlet of the Gulf of Maine where the Machias River meets the sea. The bay has many islands and rocky areas. Two peninsulas inside the bay, Birch Point and Holmes Point, are very important. They are known for their ancient Native American living sites and their amazing rock carvings, called petroglyphs.

Birch Point, located in Machiasport, has at least 57 rock art figures. Holmes Point, in East Machias, also has many important carvings. Often, the oldest petroglyphs are found closer to the water. Later, as the local Passamaquoddy people lost control of the land, new carvings stopped appearing in these areas.

Hog Island's Unique Art

Hog Island is another special place in Machias Bay. It's located between Holmes Point and Sprague Neck. This island has several rock art panels with unique figures. Some of these figures are "anthropomorphic," meaning they look like humans. They are different from the simpler stick figures found at other sites. Both Hog Island and Holmes Point have later carvings that show more detailed human-like shapes. Four specific sites on Hog Island are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Art from Inland: Grand Lake Stream

Not all rock art is found by the sea. One important site is located far inland, near the village of Grand Lake Stream. This art is on a rock ledge along a canoe route that was used for a long time. Some of these carvings were made with metal tools, probably in the 1800s. There are also newer "pecked pictographs" from the late 1900s. The art here includes human figures, thunderbird designs, a snake, and a deer with antlers. This site shows that the tradition of creating rock art continues even today among the local Native community.

Ships from the Past

Two rock art sites, known as 62.46 and 62.47, show pictures of small European sailing ships. Experts like Dr. Mark Hedden, who studies Maine's rock art, believe these pictures match the small ships used by traders from Plymouth Colony. These traders are known to have visited Machias Bay in the early 1630s. The ship carvings are found on rock ledges in the bay. Site 62.46 has a complete picture of a ship, but the art at site 62.47 is broken because parts of the rock have fallen off.