Evidence for a Prehistoric Trail Map in the Sierra Nevada. III. A Fourth “Glyph Map” and a Composite of the Trails

Abstract

Two earlier reports indicated that three unusual carvings at a single petroglyph panel in the Sierra Nevada (CA-PLA-571) probably represented maps of hunting trails used by people of the Mart is Complex. In this article, a fourth wavy glyph appears to be still another trail map; the trails suggested in this glyph appear to be leading to favorable areas for hunting mountain sheep. When all four glyph-maps are superimposed on a topographic map of the area, each glyph turns out to have trail segments in common with other glyph-maps. Every petroglyph found in the 4 square miles where petroglyph sites are concentrated (51 sites involving 71 bedrock outcroppings) is within 100 m, and 96 percent within 50 m of the composite of the trails, strongly supporting the hypothesis that these unusual glyphs represent petroglyph maps of Martis hunting trails in the upper watershed of the North Fork of the American River.

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