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| Road north with small parking area to explore the Chidago site. |
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| These petroglyphs are +/- 1,500 years old. |
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| Scholars believe this was a ceremonial site where shaman practiced their spiritual magic. |
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Shaman would visit this site to experience vision quests
and interpret what they saw while in trance. |
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We don't know. We weren't here at the time.
But scholars believe
only shaman carved these symbols. |
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A coiled snake? A "whirlwind" depicted in stone? A dizzy feeling?
Carved "Concentric Circles" are found worldwide. |
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| Divided squares, circles, sun symbols, hand prints, snakes, and a bighorn sheep. |
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| Above these ancient symbols, the year 1921 has been faintly scratched into the rock. |
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| Not all surfaces in this jumble of volcanic rock feature petroglyphs. |
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| It is possible the central panel shown illustrates an individual shaman's vision quest. |
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Defaced whirlwind symbol. Shaman believed they were lifted,
spun high off the ground while in a trance. |
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| Desecration exposes the soft, porous composition of the rock. |
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| Circle with double bisecting lines could represent spinning or whirling while in trance. |
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Brightly colored Desert or Barred Spiny Lizard.
(photographed from some distance away) |
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There are atlatl, also known as throwing sticks,
depicted among the petroglyphs at the site. |
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A group of concentric circles, spirals near the ground.
And evidence vandals gouged, removed a carving. |
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| Another large, expressive panel. Possibly the work of a single shaman. |
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Each symbol held a meaning for the shaman.
Something they saw, experienced while in a trance. |
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| High on a rock face, these symbols may represent multiple spirit journeys. |
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| Higher up, with limited room to sit or recline while carving, another shaman vision panel. |
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This panel is particularly interesting as it features a pair of stylized bear paws at right.
Note: At no time do I touch or tread upon petroglyphs.
I use a variety of telephoto lens to capture images. |
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| At the upper edge, a set of stylized bear paws with a coiled symbol directly below. |
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Each of these petroglyphs has a meaning. The stylized atlatl
helps date these petroglyphs to +/- 1,500 years. |
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Chidago is one of a handful of petroglyph sites in the Fish Slough area.
Follow these links to see sites closeby: Kitchen Rock, Red Canyon, Chalfant |
| For more information visit: Fish Slough Area of Critical Environmental Concern |
Recommended reading:
"A Guide to Rock Art Sites in Southern California and Southern Nevada" by David S. Whitney
and "Coso Rock Art, a New Perspective" by Elva Younkin |
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