Early native peoples carved designs into the face of rocks, cliffs, and cave walls.
These carved designs are called petroglyphs. The petroglyphs on the Volcanic Tablelands are located on Bishop Tuff, volcanic rock with dark colored surface layer (patina). Over time the rock patina reforms and decreases the contrast of the petroglyphs. The petroglyphs in this area likely range from 1,000 to 10,000 years old. Although there are several theories aboutthe meanings of petroglyphs, their specific meanings remain a mystery. Original public domain image from Flickr