Petroglyphs
Petroglyphs are images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, pecking, carving, and abrading.
Connected Sites
| Site | Rationale | Link |
| Air and Téneré | ||
| Al-Faw | "Besides the rock carvings at the Khashm Qaryah, a significant number of petroglyphs and rock inscriptions are found in various parts of the nominated property. The petroglyphs exhibit rock carvings of images of camels, humans, chariots, and wild animals (ibex, oryx, and gazelles) (...)" (AB Ev) | |
| Andrefana Dry Forests | A number of ancient cemeteries occur on the plateau and in a cave in the Manambolo Gorge which has petroglyphs doubtfully attributed to the proto-Malagasy Vazimba people (UNEP-WCMC) | |
| Brú na Bóinne | ||
| Caral-Supe | Several, including serpents and symbols | |
| Caves of Yagul and Mitla | Caves around Caballito Blanco: Within rock shelters are paintings and petroglyphs, including a ‘candelabra’ and a white horse after which the ruins were named. (AB ev) | |
| Central Amazon Conservation Complex | "petroglyphs at the mouth of the Jaú" (nom file) | |
| Central Suriname Nature Reserve | These statements ignore the fact that the CSNR, or at least parts of it, have been occupied and used by both indigenous and tribal peoples for a variety of purposes and that there is additional archaeological evidence of traditional occupation, including cultural heritage sites such as petroglyphs. - WHS and Indigenous Peoples Rights | |
| Chaco Culture | ||
| Coa Valley and Siega Verde | ||
| Desembarco del Granma National Park | pre-pottery making culture (ceremonial squares, dozens of archeological sites, petroglyphs, pictographs, etc.). (Nom file) | |
| El Fuerte de Samaipata | Pre-Inca carvings | |
| Gobustan Rock Art | ||
| Golden Mountains of Altai | ||
| Gorham's Cave Complex | A controversial symbolic engraving in Gorham's Cave | |
| Greater Blue Mountains | Wollemi | |
| Hawaii Volcanoes | Pu'u Loa Petroglyph Field | |
| Hawraman/Uramanat | "tangible features include caves, archaeological sites, mounds, citadels, historic cemeteries, rock carvings and petroglyphs, historic roads, villages, and Havars" (AB Ev – ICOMOS) "Carved patterns (...) can be divided into four groups of humans, animals, geometrical (symbolic) and hybrid (human-animal) shapes". (Nomination file, p. 42) | |
| Himā Cultural area | wealth of rock inscriptions and petroglyphs (AB ev) | |
| Ischigualasto / Talampaya | At Talampaya | |
| Lena Pillars | ||
| Lopé-Okanda | 1,800 to 2,000 petroglyphs | |
| Los Glaciares | ||
| Marquesas Islands | Hatiheu and Fatu Iva; "The Marquesas Islands are also home to many petroglyphs and are said to hold the richest diversity of motifs found in French Polynesia" (AB ev) | |
| Olympic National Park | ||
| Orkhon Valley | "Scattered widely across the nominated site are extensive remains of hundreds of Bronze Age graves some with stones engraved with herds of deer and images of the sun and moon." | |
| Petroglyphs of the Lake Onega and the White Sea | 4,500 petroglyphs (AB ev) | |
| Petroglyphs of the Mongolian Altai | ||
| Pitons Management Area | petroglyphs... prove the existence of an Amerindian Carib population (UNEP-WCMC) | |
| Qhapaq Ñan | Cabuyal | |
| Quanzhou | "The Jiuri Mountain Wind-Praying Inscriptions (...) are cliff inscriptions recording the ritual ceremonies held by state commissioners, local officials and members of the imperial clan responsible for the management of overseas trade in the Song dynasty, whose purpose was to pray for propitious winds to aid the overseas trade shipping business." (Nomination file, p. 85) | |
| Rapa Nui | ||
| Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve | ||
| Risco Caido | Several, including "The vicinity of Roque Bentayga also contains artificial caves, defensive walls and alphabetical petroglyphs." (nom file) | |
| Rock Art in the Hail Region | "The rock art of Jabal Umm Sinman Jubbah and Jabal Al-Major and Jabal Raat near Shuwaymis contain an exceptionally large number of petroglyphs, created by using a range of techniques with simple stone hammers, against a background of gradual environmental deterioration, and are visually stunning expressions of the human creative genius." (OUV – criterion i) | |
| Rock Art of Alta | ||
| Rock Carvings in Tanum | ||
| Rock Drawings in Valcamonica | ||
| Sulaiman-Too | ||
| Tadrart Acacus | ||
| Tanbaly | "features a remarkable concentration of some 5,000 petroglyphs" (OUV) | |
| Tasmanian Wilderness | "Well preserved, diverse rock marking sites and rock shelter sites provide evidence of Aboriginal occupation" (crit iii) | |
| Tassili n'Ajjer | ||
| Tikal National Park | Petroglyph 1 is a 4x6m rock carving, depicting a captive. | |
| Tower of Hercules | Monte dos Bicos | |
| Tsodilo | Stone snake | |
| Twyfelfontein | ||
| Uvs Nuur Basin | At Yamaalig | |
| Viñales Valley | In several caves | |
| Vredefort Dome | ||
| Wadi Rum | over 25,000 petroglyphs (images engraved or painted on rocks) and around 20,000 examples of rock epigraphy (engraved inscriptions) (AB ev) | |
| Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino | There are a number of prehistoric sites of importance on the peninsula, as well as petroglyphs, wall paintings and ancient ruined structures | |
| Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi |
Suggestions?
Do you know of another WHS we could connect to Petroglyphs?
A connection should:
- Not be "self evident"
- Link at least 3 different sites
- Not duplicate or merely subdivide the "Category" assignment already identified on this site.
- Add some knowledge or insight (whether significant or trivial!) about WHS for the users of this site
- Be explained, with reference to a source