Ancient petroglyph in Keewenaw Penninsula vandalised
Four thousand years ago ancient peoples gathered on the shores of the Great Lakes. The waters from melting glaciers made the beaches many feet above the current level of Lake Superior.
On the cliffs of the Keewenaw Penninsula a long lava extrusion sticks out on this ancient shoreline. Scatterred across the rock are lithic carvings of unknown antiquity.
Some are of superb quality while others challenge the beliefs of 20th Century archaeology.
Modern diffussionist studies suggest evidence that presents differring views of man's past accomplishments.
Often primitives were thought unable to achieve some task, only to prove a better understanding than modern man of the complexities involved.
Prejudices based on race, religion, or culture can blind us to the inherent abilities of all humans throughout time and around the world.
Viewing others through the lens of one own's culture can distort the reality of what is going on.
This could be the reason for criminal acts taking place at one site in the area. A figure referred to as 'the Birdwoman' consisted of an anthropomorphic female shape with the recognizable figure of a crow standing atop the neck.
Jeff Savage, curator of the Fon du Lac Tribal museum, is certain the triangluar figure represents a woman, while Old World epigraphers identify the distinctive design as Tanit, a Carthaginian war goddess known in other ancient cultures as Ishtar and Astarte.
Other shapes; a hand, crossed circle, and various straight and curved lines, in close proximity, were untouched. The bird, as shown in the second picture, was completely destroyed.
Author: Charles Bruns | Source: Examiner [November 10, 2011]
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| Raven on female figure destroyed [Credit: Jo Lorichan] |
Some are of superb quality while others challenge the beliefs of 20th Century archaeology.
Modern diffussionist studies suggest evidence that presents differring views of man's past accomplishments.
Often primitives were thought unable to achieve some task, only to prove a better understanding than modern man of the complexities involved.
Prejudices based on race, religion, or culture can blind us to the inherent abilities of all humans throughout time and around the world.
 |
| Photo of petroglyph as it originally was [Credit: Judy Johnson] |
This could be the reason for criminal acts taking place at one site in the area. A figure referred to as 'the Birdwoman' consisted of an anthropomorphic female shape with the recognizable figure of a crow standing atop the neck.
Jeff Savage, curator of the Fon du Lac Tribal museum, is certain the triangluar figure represents a woman, while Old World epigraphers identify the distinctive design as Tanit, a Carthaginian war goddess known in other ancient cultures as Ishtar and Astarte.
Other shapes; a hand, crossed circle, and various straight and curved lines, in close proximity, were untouched. The bird, as shown in the second picture, was completely destroyed.
Author: Charles Bruns | Source: Examiner [November 10, 2011]
