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Atlatl Cliff, so named for the many petroglyph depictions of atlatls found at this site, is located in the Little Lake, California, volcanic field. The site is approximately 100 meters wide and extends up a steep slope of basalt blocks that have dislodged from a shear two hundred foot tall near vertical wall that is the edge of a lava flow. The blocks are not stable and the outcrop is continuing to tumble. Evidence of movement can be seen in the repositioning of petroglyphs to the most unlikely orientations and on rocks that have split and moved apart. Many of the petroglyphs are representational: there are about a hundred atlatls depicted, also circles, circles attached to lines, concentric circles, dumbbells, lines of dots, lines of circles, occasional animal/ human tracks and various other elements. This is a small rock art site, with only about two-three hundred petroglyphs spread out over the boulders. There is an archaic Pinto Culture site near Atlatl Cliff. There is no proof that they were the authors of this rock art, but the petroglyphs show repatinization and appear to be 4000 to 5000 years in age. There is occasiuonal repecking of older images and Numic grid scratching over some of the petroglyphs. |
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Atlatl Cliff is located on the crumbling edge of an ancient lava flow. |
The elements on this boulder are typical of archaic Great Basin petroglyph sites. 'Fringe' on the center dot appears to have been added at a later time. |
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| These petroglyphs have be repatinated to the point of being difficult to see in certain light. |
This large boulder split from natural causes. |
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In some cultures (i.e. Hopi) the dumbbell shape represents 'a conference took place here'. Note the insect form petroglyph in the center |
Atlatl depictions date these petroglyphs to pre bow & arrow times. |
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