Track Rock Petroglyphs

After we went to Brasstown Bald we took another side trip to see the Track Rock Petroglyphs. On the trail up to the petroglyphs we saw these tiny purple pinwheel flowers.

Unlike Native American petrographs we've visited in the past, petroglyphs are carved into huge soapstone boulders not drawn or painted on the rocks. Petroglyphs or rock engravings occur throughout the world and are associated with prehistoric peoples. The petroglyphs at Track Rock were found to be made over several hundred years beginning approximately 1000 AD. The engravings at Track Rock were made by either direct carving or pecking with another object pounded on the boulder.

Track Rock is considered a place of power within a sacred landscape. In numerous Cherokee stories, rocks with footprints and tracks signify an area of transition, a doorway or threshold into the domain of dangerous spirit beings.

One Cherokee story or legend about Track Rock says a giant, Tsulkalu  'Master of the Game', came from the land of the dead spirits from the West to visit the Cherokee, stayed awhile as a friend and helper, and later returned West.

For a detailed description of each boulder, please click the link. For a detailed description of the figures on the boulders, please click the link.

Boulder four originally thought to be a figure of a spear thrower is now thought to represent a map. Now that I've read more about the Track Rock Petroglyphs I'd like to go back to visit them again. I have a new respect for the meaning behind this sacred site of my ancestors. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Indian Trail Trees

Since my arrival in Georgia I've been learning more about my Native American ancestry and the history of this area. My great grandmother, a Cherokee, traveled on the Trail of Tears. My grandmother told me her mother traveled from Georgia to settle near Arkadelphia in what is now the state of Arkansas. One of the books I checked out of the library the other day is Indian Trail Trees by Elaine Jordan. I'd never heard of trail trees and the book looked intriguing. I wondered if Native Americans intentionally shaped trees to mark trails? After reading the book and doing some research I learned hardwood trees were shaped to mark routes traveled over North America for centuries.

I remembered a home we'd seen for sale; we didn't buy the house but I recalled a huge trail tree in the front yard. I went back to take a photograph of the tree which is shown in the first photograph. This massive trail tree is growing in the front yard of the home and the direction points towards the town of Cleveland Georgia. At the hip of the tree another branch has formed subsequent to the original training of this tree's central leader. The girth of the second central leader is much smaller in diameter.

Here's a diagram excerpted from the book showing one of the methods used by the Native Americans to shape a hardwood tree to form a trail tree. Trail trees were used as directional markers showing routes to resources, camp sites, and river crossings for travelers. Some trees were hollowed out at the nose so messages could be left in the trees. Sometrees were intentionally fashioned taller to show the way for travelers on horseback.

Here's another photo of the trail tree showing a distant view. I wish I had taken another photograph with me in the photo to better show the scale of the tree. Perhaps another time I'll take a trip back to see the tree. Meanwhile I'm busy reading both fictional and non fictional historical novels about Native Americans. The appraisal of our new home is completed and now all that's left is the final paperwork, more about our move in date coming soon.

Stay tuned for news about a clay workshop in North Carolina I'll be taking in the middle of January. Also coming up I'll take you on a tour of a local potter's studio here in Cleveland, Georgia. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Fort Frederica National Monument

olive jar imported by colonists

James Oglethorpe decided to build a planned community, a place to live and work for the people trapped in debtor's prison in British. Oglethorpe chose people with various trades needed in a self sustaining community he envisioned.

To protect the skilled laborers, artisans and farmers a fort was built surrounding the town as a way to ensure the safety of it's inhabitants from regiments of British troops.

In addition to immigrants from Europe, Oglethorpe forged alliances with the indigenous native Americans living in Georgia at the time.

Artifacts from the planned community are housed in the museum telling about the history of the early inhabitants in Frederica.

Scottish Highlanders were a large group of immigrants who lived at Fort Frederica. It was fascinating to learn of a planned community from so long ago.

We got the transmission fixed on the motorhome. Apparently the previous garage had tightened the drain plug so much that the threads were stripped and the seal was compressed beyond repair. A new section had to be welded into the pan of the transmission and a new drain plug and seal installed and new transmission fluid added. So we're off for more adventures. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.