“Lizard Lounge” Petroglyphs

This was a fun little site to visit! Though smaller than many other petroglyph sites, it has some very fascinating elements.

Most of the petroglyphs at this site are similar in style to others in the vicinity, but the showcase element – the eponymous lizard – is unique. It looks much more like elements found way southwest of here, in Chumash rock art, or in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Yokuts or Tübatulabal territory.

It is great to see the petroglyphs doing well, with no vandalism. Not too far from this site a larger and more well known site has suffered the usual – scratched initials, gun shot damage, general vandalism and litter. So far this site is just hard enough to find that it has escaped that fate.

If you visit, make sure to respect it. No climbing on the rocks, no touching!

There are some interesting petroglyphs on this split boulder. Since none of the elements span the crack I think they were made after the boulder cracked.

There are some interesting petroglyphs on this split boulder. Since none of the elements span the crack I think they were made after the boulder cracked.

Again it seems that the elements were drawn on the boulder after it cracked. The lower element is hard to discern - maybe also a zoomorph or anthropomorph of some kind - and the other elements also have a representational quality to them.

Again it seems that the elements were made on the boulder after it cracked since none are split by the cracks. The lower element is hard to figure out – maybe also a zoomorph very similar to the larger lizard, or an anthropomorph of some kind – and the other elements also have a Representational quality to them. Maybe they depict a pair of lizards crawling out of the ground and up the rock.

On the left there's another h-like element, a circle, and something that might be an anthropomorph. Towards the top of the boulder the petroglyphs grow faint, apparently eroded by wind-borne sand.

On the left there’s an h-like element with a faint cross bar, a circle with a central dot in the lower left, and something that might be an anthropomorph in between those two elements. Towards the top of the boulder the petroglyphs grow faint, apparently eroded by wind-borne sand.

On the right hand side two elements run side by side. On the left is a squiggle line - sometimes interpreted as representing a snake - and on the right the other squiggle line have ladder-like bars pecked at every other squiggle. These elements must have taken a while to make!

On the right hand side two elements run side by side. On the left is a squiggle line – sometimes interpreted as representing a snake – and on the right the other squiggle line has ladder-like bars pecked at every other squiggle. These elements must have taken some time to make!

This squiggle on a flat boulder looks a little like an h with wobbly lines.

This squiggle on a flat boulder looks a little like an h with wobbly lines.

This little boulder has an abstract element on it.

This little boulder has an abstract element on it: a few loops of a chain-like element.

The element on the lower right is pretty typical of this area. In this case it looks like there is a diamond pattern there - maybe it represents a net or a baby cradleboard, maybe it is just an incidental design.

The element on the lower right is pretty typical of this area. In this case it looks like there is a diamond pattern there – maybe it represents a net or a baby cradleboard, maybe it is just an incidental design.

A close look at the eponymous figure. The bent legs and upward facing digitate feet is a distinct style that is also found in Chumash and other southern Californian rock art.

A close look at the eponymous figure. The bent legs and upward facing digitate feet is a distinct style that is also found in Chumash and other southern Californian rock art.

 

2 thoughts on ““Lizard Lounge” Petroglyphs

    1. peregriffwrites@gmail.com Post author

      I really liked seeing that lizard shape here! I’m more used to seeing that shape in pictographs. Come to think of it though, I’ve seen it once on the Volcanic Tablelands too – the Circle Obelisk site.

      Reply

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