Central Texas Pictograph Rock Art!

A one of a kind Central Texas Pictograph found in Burnet county!

We were doing some exploring on a privately owned ranch in January 2005. This is the same ranch where we earlier investigated a prehistorically occupied rockshelter.

You never know what you are going to find on this type of field trip. This day was no exception as my boys made a find I never expected to see in this part of Central Texas!

I was a little surprised to see Zachary come up with this great looking Ram skull, but that was nothing compared to what else was in the hole it had came out of.

Travis looks up from inside the hole and says "You've got to see this!"
The pigment is barely visible above his head.

Zack fits inside better than any of us!

Following them down into the crevis I see their find!

Man these kids are lucky. I went in every hole I came across as a kid and never found any rock art!

More pictographs survived in the the arid Lower Pecos region of Texas but can occasionally still be found in the Central Texas region.

Dr. Thomas Hester's note to me regarding this find, "David: I can't tell too much about this w/ the current image. It does seem to be pretty typical (if that word can be used!) of Central Texas rock art. Lots around Austin in the little caves along the Colorado. A great site in Kendall County, many out here along the SW Edwards Plateau. Of course, most have been destroyed by vandals, or by folks who went in to root out the deposits, etc. Fortunately, A. T. Jackson recorded a lot of these sites in the 1930s, and published them in his famous Picture-Writing of the Texas Indians. One Burnet County site, his No. 156, located about 2 mi from the Colorado had a variety of red and black motifs. Might be Historic, though not certain in my mind. Jackson also recorded pictograph sites in Edwards, Kinney, Uvalde, Real, Kerr, Kimble, Gillespie, Mason, Llano, San Saba, Burnet, Bell, Coryell, Williamson and McLennan County. Missed KE66 in Kendall County, with lots of red motifs. So, though not very distinctive, and not with lots of repetitive motifs, the Lower Pecos ain't the only rock art area!"

Even if this isn't the first ever it's still very special. It is probably the first pictograph discovered in Burnet county this century!

This is just a few hundred yards from the prehistorically occupied rockshelter mentioned earlier. It is apparent that no one has been down in this crevice in many years. In addition to various animal bones and skulls there were two antique (1930's vintage) steel traps in the bottom of the crevice. I really would like to see some professional work done at this site but the expense of a professional dig will probably prohibit it. Another question is whether the landowner will allow an official archaeological investigation. This really isn't my find but I will record any further investigation that we might do. For the time being the best thing to do here may be to do nothing at all.

I wish to thank my brother Darrell for inviting us to explore this ranch with him. Also thanks to the undisclosed Burnet county landowner who has allowed us access to this unique property.

References Cited:

Texas Beyond History
"Lower Pecos Rock Art"

A.T. Jackson
"Picture-Writing of the Texas Indians"

Dr. Thomas R. Hester
Personal communications

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