I threw this out as a bit of an April Fools joke before I saw Chilly's post. I should know not to mess with the master.

Pictographs have always made me ponder. Does anyone know the science behind why the pictographs we see have stayed with us. Is it simply a matter of the pigments used, or was there some sort of a chemical reaction that changed the rock?

Karl's reaction was perfect. Graffiti. Is it their longevity that puts pictographs in a different category? Are they simply art, or is there more to them? I can't help but wonder if there were many artists back at the time the pictographs were created that created wood carvings and other works of art that simply faded away with time. Did the people who created the pictographs know that their art work would persist for as long as it has? Did they intentionally work to develop their pigments so they would last?

I have always seen a bit of irony that we all practice LNT yet are fascinated with pictographs.

What's your theory on pictographs? The lighter side of me pictures an ancient father chastising his son for painting the rocks. The rebellious child of course is then motivated to develop pigments that will last for ever.

Your gonna want holo-nanographic pigmented paints. You can pick them up in 2147 at any LivingPodDepot, then just jump in your spacial relativity device, return to today, and you are good to go.

HayRiverDrifter: "I know a few good cliffs where I would like to express my artistic abilities."

You mean..................graffiti?

KarlBAndersen1: "

HayRiverDrifter: "I know a few good cliffs where I would like to express my artistic abilities."

You mean..................graffiti?
"

I think this was Quetico Lake. Says something like "Route to Quetico". Graffiti.

Oh my. I guess there is no end to stupid.

I was totally joking with my original post. I never thought someone would actually do something like this.

I don't want this thread to take a turn down this road. I honestly want to learn more about the pictographs and hear some theories.

Most if not all pictographs I have seen are on cliffs with a good overhang. Which raises the question, did the artists choose those locations or were there once many many more pictographs but the only ones left are the ones protected by an overhanging cliff? My guess is it’s the latter, but who knows.

If you want a good laugh, check out the pictograph on Montgomery Lake in Quetico sometime. Its pointing in a direction of travel alright.

Minnesotian: "
If you want a good laugh, check out the pictograph on Montgomery Lake in Quetico sometime. Its pointing in a direction of travel alright. "

Upright figure with a tail.

Age adds gravitas to anything. It adds mysticism to some things that were probably as innocuous as "Happy Birthday Sprinting Squirrel" or "Welcome Home Members of the Spring Hunting Party". There is a rock the size of a Volkswagen near me that is painted almost weekly with a wide variety of messages. 200 years from now people will be in awe of the spirituality of Trevor asking for the honor of escorting Courtney to the prom.

Human nature does not change. Some of the pictographs probably did have significance in their day, but the ones that have weathered the centuries are most likely, like marsonite and Karl theorized, graffiti protected from the elements.



Kilroy was here.

Does anyone have a picture of the pictograph along the Echo Trail by Ed Shave Lake?

Unas10: Human nature does not change. Some of the pictographs probably did have significance in their day, but the ones that have weathered the centuries are most likely, like marsonite and Karl theorized, graffiti protected from the elements.
"

Pictographs STILL have a great deal of significance to Ojibwe people.Two hundred years ago, it wasn't easy to aquire powdered red ochre and sturgeon cartilage so it's nothing like modern graffiti. There was a lot of purpose and ceremony when marking routes, sharing experiences, and noting sacred places. We have the same Ojibwe clans/ families that are represented in pictos of canoes (like at basswood) there are images like the one above that likely noted that the man was a solid provider had many children(also like at LLC)and there are hundreds of other images that are important to understanding the world and Ojibwe people's place in it. There's some mystery around these places as well, so act accordingly and be respectful.

martoonie: "Does anyone have a picture of the pictograph along the Echo Trail by Ed Shave Lake?"

Last year when we drive by there was one that said "Jesus saves" followed by another that said "coupons" Got a chuckle from us :)

OgimaaBines: "

Unas10: Human nature does not change. Some of the pictographs probably did have significance in their day, but the ones that have weathered the centuries are most likely, like marsonite and Karl theorized, graffiti protected from the elements.
"

Pictographs STILL have a great deal of significance to Ojibwe people.Two hundred years ago, it wasn't easy to aquire powdered red ochre and sturgeon cartilage so it's nothing like modern graffiti. There was a lot of purpose and ceremony when marking routes, sharing experiences, and noting sacred places. We have the same Ojibwe clans/ families that are represented in pictos of canoes (like at basswood) there are images like the one above that likely noted that the man was a solid provider had many children(also like at LLC)and there are hundreds of other images that are important to understanding the world and Ojibwe people's place in it. There's some mystery around these places as well, so act accordingly and be respectful.
"

I find this very interesting, thanks for sharing it with us. I find the pictographs mesmerizing. I didn’t know sturgeon cartilage was used.