Today I visited Jeffers Petroglyphs for the first time in years. I grew up in southern Minnesota, so I had the opportunity to visit this historic site a few times as a child and young adult. These petroglyphs are carved into red rock in southern Minnesota.

Some highlights of the trip:

The petroglyphs themselves (of course!)
Seeing the endangered species Prairie Bush Clover
The buffalo rub (shiny!)
Actually getting a guided tour
Throwing an arrow using an atlatl
Seeing prairie again (and pretty rocks! and lichens! Except the lichens cover some of the petroglyphs)
Having an opportunity to learn about a variety of topics
Seeing children enthralled by all there was to learn

There were monarch butterfly larvae in the visitor center, and we just missed watching one spin a chrysalis!We started with the multimedia presentation about the petroglyphs, which noted the importance of bison and showed a few key petroglyphs. After watching the presentation, we began to walk to the tour and got distracted by a large thistle plant with a hummingbird moth, bee and monarch butterfly on it. Plants and insects everywhere!

I don’t think I ever actually got a guided tour the other times I went to the petroglyphs. This included a special manipulation of the sun (using a source of shade and a mirror) to illuminate the petroglyphs. They popped out! A couple of the children were especially enthralled by the figures of the fighting men, one of whom was stabbed in the heart. One part of the site was recently cleared of soil and plants (a small area, but it had several petroglyphs.) There were some very interesting figures. It would be neat to see more of the site excavated to see what other figures lie below the soil! These figures were also easier to see, because they weren’t covered with lichen like many of the earlier revealed figures. (They are currently trying to remove some of the lichen from an area of the rock by placing a tarp over it. This will deprive the lichen of the sunlight it needs to survive.)

The tour guide provided some helpful information, as well as some stuff that really didn’t interest me. (I’m not very interested in the spiritual aspects. I prefer science.) Eventually, we got more onto the topic of science and discussed a lot about plants, animals, and anthropology. I am somewhat interested in cultures (especially ancient cultures and mythology), but what can I say? I am not spiritual and don’t believe in the supernatural.

Several children attended the events at Jeffers Petroglyphs, including the aforementioned guided tour. Then there was a special presentation to introduce children (and adults) to American Indian life (pre-technology). The children intently listened to the guide about the tools, clothes, and games/toys they used, including many things made from buffalo parts! The children were captivated by the presentation, especially since it was hands on and interactive. They got to participate and pretend they were Native American children.

Then the group moved outside to learn how to use an atlatl. A young 6-year-old boy went first and launched the arrow quite a long ways! Children as young as four tried and successfully used the atlatl. I even made a few throws, which skewed to the left, but went fairly far! An 8-year-old girl said she didn’t want to try it, but I could sense it was due to a lack of confidence. I goaded her into trying it and said I’d help her along the way. Well, she did it, we cheered her and she smiled with a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes trying is 95% of the battle.

Then we went to see the buffalo rub–one place where the bison would rub up against, most likely to fight itch and slough off dead skin, extra fur and ectoparasites. Eventually, parts of the rock were polished to a shiny smoothness!

I had mentioned to the tour guide earlier in the  day how much I would love to see the prairie bush clover, since it is threatened or endangered throughout its native range. She found some, including one that was still blooming and made sure to show us. It (Lespedeza leptostachya) looked quite different from its congener round headed prairie bush clover (Lespedeza capitata). Apparently the two have been hybridizing, something which could end up being bad for the threatened species.

All-in-all it was a fruitful day. I’d like to go back again some day, near dusk, where the petroglyphs are best lit. Plus there’s always more to learn!

For more on the trip, read here.

Tags: anthropology, atlatl, biology, buffalo, Education, Entomology, jeffers petroglyphs, petroglyphs, plant biology, prairie, red rock, science

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