List of petroglyph sites

Last updated

This list contains notable petroglyphs, or rock engravings, around the world.

Contents

Africa

A petroglyph in Bidzar, Cameroon Site archeologique de Bidzar4.jpg
A petroglyph in Bidzar, Cameroon

Algeria

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Republic of the Congo

Egypt

Ethiopia

Gabon

Libya

Morocco

Lion Plate at Twyfelfontein in Namibia (2014) Lion Plate at Twyfelfontein, Namibia (2014).jpg
Lion Plate at Twyfelfontein in Namibia (2014)

Namibia

Niger

South Africa

Tunisia [5]

Zambia

Asia

Armenia

Petroglyphs at Ughtasar, Armenia Petrogliph-Ughtasar-Armenia2.jpg
Petroglyphs at Ughtasar, Armenia

Azerbaijan

Petroglyphs at Gobustan, Azerbaijan Gobustan Petroglyph 03.jpg
Petroglyphs at Gobustan, Azerbaijan

China

Georgia

Hong Kong

Rock carving on Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong Cheung Chau Rock Carving 1.jpg
Rock carving on Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong

Eight sites in Hong Kong:

India

Petroglyphs in Ladakh, India Petroglyphs, Ladakh, NW India.JPG
Petroglyphs in Ladakh, India
Goddess Lajja Gauri, portrayed squatting and with legs facing outward Petroglyphs In Maharashtra.jpg
Goddess Lajja Gauri, portrayed squatting and with legs facing outward

Iran

Map of petroglyphs and pictographs of Iran Iran-map 7.jpg
Map of petroglyphs and pictographs of Iran

During recent years a large number of rock carvings has been identified in different parts of Iran. The vast majority depict the ibex. [19] [20] Rock drawings were found in December 2016 near Golpayegan, Iran, which may be the oldest drawings discovered, with one cluster possibly 40,000 years old. Accurate estimations were unavailable due to US sanctions. [21]

The oldest pictographs in Iran are seen in Yafteh cave in Lorestan that date back 40,000 and the oldest petroglyph discovered belongs to Timareh dating back to 40,800 years ago.

Iran provides demonstrations of script formation from pictogram, ideogram, linear (2300 BC) or proto Elamite, geometric old Elamite script, Pahlevi script, Arabic script (906 years ago), Kufi script, and Farsi script back to at least 250 years ago. More than 50000 petroglyphs have been discovered, extended over all Iran's states. [22] [20] [23]

Israel

Japan

Petroglyph found in Awashima shrine (Japan) Petoro.JPG
Petroglyph found in Awashima shrine (Japan)

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Hunting scene in Koksu, Kazakhstan Koksu Petroglyphs.JPG
Hunting scene in Koksu, Kazakhstan
Tamgaly petroglyphs in Kazakhstan Tanbaly.jpg
Tamgaly petroglyphs in Kazakhstan
Buddhist carvings at Ili River, Kazakhstan Buddhas at ili.jpg
Buddhist carvings at Ili River, Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Petroglyphs at Cholpon-Ata in Kyrgyzstan KyrgyzPetroglyphs.jpg
Petroglyphs at Cholpon-Ata in Kyrgyzstan

Laos

South Korea

Macau

Malaysia

Mongolia

Pakistan

Philippines

Petroglyphs on a rock wall found in the Sierra Madre mountain range, Rizal, Philippines Angono Petroglyphs1.jpg
Petroglyphs on a rock wall found in the Sierra Madre mountain range, Rizal, Philippines

Saudi Arabia

Taiwan

Thailand

Vietnam

Yemen

Europe

England

Finland

France

Ireland

Italy

Northern Ireland

Norway

Portugal

Scotland

Spain

Millenarian rock carvings, Laxe dos carballos at Campo Lameiro, Spain, showing a deer hit by several spears Ciervo cuernos.jpg
Millenarian rock carvings, Laxe dos carballos at Campo Lameiro, Spain, showing a deer hit by several spears

Russia

Petroglyph Park near Petrozavodsk-Lake Onega, Russia Petroglif Bes, Besov nos.jpg
Petroglyph Park near PetrozavodskLake Onega, Russia
Mammoth on the basalt stone in Sikachi-Alyan, Russia Petroglify Sikachi-Aliana 2.JPG
Mammoth on the basalt stone in Sikachi-Alyan, Russia
White Sea petroglyphs, Republic of Karelia, Russia Belomorsk petroglyphs00.jpg
White Sea petroglyphs, Republic of Karelia, Russia

Sweden

Turkey

Ukraine

Wales

Central and South America and the Caribbean

Argentina

Talampaya National Park, La Rioja Province, Argentina Talampaya petroglyphs (1).jpg
Talampaya National Park, La Rioja Province, Argentina
Petroglyph on Tunduqueral hill at Uspallata, Argentina Petroglifo001.jpg
Petroglyph on Tunduqueral hill at Uspallata, Argentina

Aruba

Brazil

The oldest reliably dated rock art in the Americas is known as the "Horny Little Man." It is petroglyph depicting a stick figure with an oversized phallus and carved in Lapa do Santo, a cave in central-eastern Brazil and dates from 12,000 to 9,000 years ago. [32]

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Dominican Republic

Grenada

Montserrat

Nicaragua

Paraguay

Fertility symbols, called "Ita Letra" by the local Panambi'y people, in a natural shelter in Amambay, Paraguay Fertility symbols found in natural shelter in Amambay, Paraguay.jpeg
Fertility symbols, called "Ita Letra" by the local Panambi'y people, in a natural shelter in Amambay, Paraguay

Peru

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Suriname

Trinidad and Tobago

Venezuela

North America

Canada

Mexico

Near Parras, Coahuila ParrasPetroglyphs.jpg
Near Parras, Coahuila

United States

Petroglyph on western coast of Hawaii Petroglyph on the western coast of Hawaii.jpg
Petroglyph on western coast of Hawaii
Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Hawaii petroglyph men.jpg
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Modern Hopi have interpreted the petroglyphs at Mesa Verde National Park's Petroglyph Point as depictions of the Eagle, Mountain Sheep, Parrot, Horned Toad, and Mountain Lion clans, and the Ancestral Puebloans who inhabited the mesa Petroglyph Point at Mesa Verde National Park by RO.JPG
Modern Hopi have interpreted the petroglyphs at Mesa Verde National Park's Petroglyph Point as depictions of the Eagle, Mountain Sheep, Parrot, Horned Toad, and Mountain Lion clans, and the Ancestral Puebloans who inhabited the mesa

Oceania

Australia

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