North America's oldest rock carvings discovered

[Valin]

the Telegraph

Ancient rock etchings along a dried-up lake bed in Nevada have been confirmed to be the oldest recorded petroglyphs in North America, dating back at least 10,000 years.

8/15/13

 

The ancient carvings on these limestone boulders in northern Nevada's high desert have been confirmed to be the oldest recorded petroglyphs in North America, at least 10,500 years old Photo: AP Photo/Larry Benson, USGS

 

The petroglyphs found on limestone boulders near Pyramid Lake in northern Nevada's high desert are similar in design to etchings found at a lake in Oregon that are believed to be at least 7,600 years old.

 

Unlike later drawings that sometimes depict a spear or antelope, the carvings are abstract with tightly clustered geometric designs some are diamond patterns, others have short parallel lines on top of a longer line.

 

Scientists cannot tell for sure who carved them, but they were found on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe's reservation land.

 

(Snip)

 

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