Graffiti first started at the ancient petroglyphs site in 1870. Some graffit was carved over the petroglyphs. Such a sad shame. It takes complete idiots to defile a Sacred place like this. If I catch someone defacing a sacred place such as this I'll do everything I can to report them. If you ever catch someone defacing a sacred place such as this, Please report them. Either report violaters to the National Forest, Sheriffs Dept. or any law officer of the county. Please Help Protect Sacred places such as this.

Petroglyph photographs copyrighted by Robert J. Schneider

This page was last updated on: November 3, 2004

The photographs above right and below right shows evidence where someone chiseled out some of the petroglyphs. Reason being is why I don't disclose exactly where these petroglyphs are located in order to protect them. No one knows exactly who carved these symbols many years ago. Prove to me that you are worthy and I'll tell you. I might also meet you and take you to them. Once you see them you'll know why I help protect them.

Photograph above right showing Columbia Tiger Lilies left by a 15 year old girl that I met at a Lake above the Petroglyphs. She was saddened as I, after seeing the graffiti. She had picked the flowers for herself from the creek below the petroglyphs, but after seeing the damage done by stupid idiots, she placed them for the peoples who carved the symbols. She was one of 20 kids aging in age from 11 to 17 and 3 adult youth councilers camping at the lake. They drove up from San Diego, California, then hiked 11 miles to the lake. They all were saddened after seeing the graffiti.

Photograph above left upper right corner shows a mortar hole where grain or seeds were ground into flower. There are more of these a few feet above the petroglyphs.

No one knows exactly who carved these images in the rocks many years ago, but they are Sacred to the Maidu Peoples. It is part of their Heritage. In case you can't read the sign above. Lake Petroglyphs Please Note; The name of the Lake near where the petroglyphs are located has been removed to further protect them. Petroglyphs are designs or symbols pecked or cut into stone. The meaning of these symbols are debatable. Some archaelogists feel that they had a magical function to assure success in the hunt. Others feel that they were boundaries or even maps. The archaeological evidence suggests that most of the symbols were made between 2000 BC and 500 AD. This is a very important resource and it is part of your heritage. Please respect this site by not abusing it. All I will say about there location to help protect them is that they are in the Lakes Basin area of Plumas County and Sierra County, California Its not that easy to find them.

New Grafitti at the Petroglyph's Site

More information can be found at, "Friends of Sierra Rock Art (FSRA)" Then At the left click on Articles, Then Ancient Petroglyph Makers of the Northern Sierra by Bill Drake