<< Other Photo Pages >> Pictograph Caves - Rock Art in United States in The Northwest Mountains
Submitted by bat400 on Wednesday, 15 July 2015 Page Views: 17511
Rock ArtSite Name: Pictograph Caves Alternative Name: Hieroglyphic Caves, Indian Caves, Inscription CaveCountry: United States
NOTE: This site is 80.043 km away from the location you searched for.
Region: The Northwest Mountains Type: Rock Art
Nearest Town: Billings, Montana
Latitude: 45.737000N Longitude: 108.4317W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
Internal Links:
External Links:
I have visited· I would like to visit
mfrincu visited on 21st Jun 2015 - their rating: Amb: 4 Access: 4 Unfortunately when I got here the cave was closed due to some rock slides. It was due for reopening by mid July. Hopefully the cave itself was not damaged.
bat400 visited on 1st Jan 1989 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 4 Access: 4 See the site listing. It's not possible to get close to the pictographs, so bring binoculars.
Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Ambience: 4 Access: 4
The caves are named Pictograph Cave, Ghost Cave, and Middle Cave. The first two may be viewed by the public from a trail immediately by the edge of the overhanging rock. Binoculars are necessary to get a better view of the white, black, and red painted figures, animals and designs.
Excavations in the early to mid 20thC found burial sites, stone tools, household basketry and ceramics. Carbon dating has indicated use going back 1300 years, but stone tools from much lower strata indicate habitation 9000 years ago.
Pictograph Caves State Park is a National Historic Landmark, but that designation was nearly taken away in the 1970's because of the vandalism taking place at the site and generally poor control of visitors. I visited the site in the late 1980's, after improvements made by the state and the city of Billings put an end to teenage beer parties and bonfires. The condition of the cave paintings is not especially good - compared to photos taken in the 1930s they are dramatically faded. However, painted figures are relatively rare in North America, and this is one of the few easily accessible public sites where such paintings may be seen. I also remember the area as being particularly scenic, with many birds and small, unseen mammals scurrying about in the brush.
The location is general for the entire site, not a particular cave or pictograph.
Official Park web sitewith detailed information.
Note: Montana’s Pictograph Cave reopens after lengthy repairs, see the latest comment on our page
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