Jeffers petroglyphs: examining socioeconomic and cultural differences between late archaic and late prehistoric periods introduction

MOTIFS AND SCENES IN JEFFERS PETROGLYPHS

Archaic Period motifs

Atlatl

Lothson divided the petroglyphs into five classes according to subject and form. Each class is divided into internal categories according to shape and design elements. Of the 1,489 identifiable petroglyphs, 13.38 percent belong to a class including atlatls, axes, projectile points, and other weapons. Since it is comparable to material culture, the images in this class are the most suitable for interpretation. Along with projectile points, atlatls are the most numerous images in this group. Also, the most relevant images for dating are atlatls (Lothson 1976:24).

The atlatl is a spear-thrower that was utilized by prehistoric societies throughout the Archaic period. When the earliest Paleoindians came to Minnesota, they already used the atlatl. A spear thrown with an atlatl goes at least twice as far, and with double, the power as a spear launched only with the arm. (Callahan 2001:54). Compared to a spear based on arm strength, the technological innovation allowed the atlatl to chase the animals from a greater distance without intimidation, thus increasing the chances of successful hunting. The atlatl likely remained the primary hunting tool until 500 BC, when the arrow and the bow appeared.

It is usually constructed of wood and is defined as a flat stick that is generally 18 to 24 inches long, has a handgrip at one end, and frequently has leather finger loops or notches for the first and second fingers. A projecting or recessed hook at the other end engaged with a depression in the spear or dart's butt. The earliest are atlatls without finger loops, followed by atlatls with one finger loop and subsequently atlatls with two-finger loops. Also, it is attributed to different periods according to the shape of the weights. Most of the atlatls represented in Jeffers rock art have two throwing loops, and their weights are round or rectangular (Lothson 1976:30).

Bannerstones are thought to have functioned as counterweights for atlatls. There have been very few discoveries in Minnesota, and none have come from well-dated settings. Most bannerstones in the Midwest are made of tough igneous granite. However, catlinite was used to create at least one specimen in Minnesota. Bannerstones from well-documented settings are frequently connected with the Middle Archaic period in the Midwest (Buhta et al., 2017:83).

The usage of atlatls appears to have continued into Woodland periods, and the bow and arrow may have started in Archaic times. Therefore, these weapon systems alone are not always an appropriate dating method (Buhta et al., 2017:35).

Projectile points

Archaic peoples left behind a wide range of projectile points, most of which were designed to fit on atlatl darts rather than thrusting spears. Dart points are often smaller and contain basal notches or stem to aid in hafting (Minnesota Office Of The State Archaeologist n.d.). Lothson documented 99 projectile points, 53 of which were categorized "projectile point", 43 were tanged, and the remainder were barbed and side-notched (Lothson 1976:25)

It is quite rare to come across classifiable tool iconography in rock art sites. On the other hand, Jeffers' extensive projectile point descriptions occasionally allow them to be identified based on genuine projectile points discovered in archaeological material. For example, according to Jack Steinbring, one of Lothson's "stemmed" type projectile point representations is of a copper form rather than a lithic shape. He linked the age of this drawing to copper projectile points discovered during archaeological excavations and dated it to 3000 BC, considering the earliest time of the Jeffers petroglyphs, but did not rule out the possibility that it could be older (Steinbring 2013:17).

One way of determining the relative age of petroglyphs is the relationship between the iconographic aspects of rock art and archaeological evidence. Furthermore, such an analogy is a significant research tool that demonstrates how rock art is related to ancient societies' real-life activities and supernatural phenomena. For example, the identification of multiple projectile points in Jeffers' iconography and their analogy with actual dart points demonstrate the importance of hunting in the lives of Archaic period inhabitants of the region.

Other motifs

Another series of pictures in Jeffers Petroglyphs that can be ascribed to the Archaic period are images of bison with darts on their bodies. The scenes of bison hunting in the Jeffers petroglyphs were most likely carved during the Archaic Period and during earlier periods. The representation of bison with darts embedded in their bodies is a distinguishing and defining feature of Archaic bison hunting scenes. Since the depictions of the atlatls belong mainly to this period, the bison hunting scenes depicted together with the dart, which are supposed to have been thrown from the atlatl, also belong to the Archaic period.

The angle at which the darts enter the bison's body indicates that the darts travelled the greatest distance feasible during the bison hunt. Although Native American shamanistic beliefs are occasionally used to explain bison hunting scenes (Callahan 2001:55), these hunting scenes represent actual, material evidence of the hunting activity of tribes residing in the area during the Archaic period. The archaeological study also reveals that bison hunting was a major source of food for the residents of the Praire Lake region throughout the Archaic period.

Another hunting tool mentioned in the Jeffers Petroglyphs, the arrow and bow can be traced back to the Archaic period. Based on the archaeological context of the arrow and bow in the region, Lothson Gordon estimated the date of one arrow and bow documented in the Jeffers Petroglyphs to be 500 BCE, indicating the end of the Archaic period.

As one can see, all of the Archaic period themes in the Jeffers Petroglyphs are atlatls, projectile points, darts attached to bison, and arrows and bows depicting hunting activities.