Is This Rock Art?

[TejasDigger]

Hey guys, I usually post in the metal detecting forum, but I have something worth posting here I believe. I own 200 acres in south Texas and have a few Indian middens and rock shelters with artifacts in them. Well, I discovered another midden and right next to it is an overhang with what looks to be rock art. Some of it is gone, but part of the art looks like finger prints and the other I'm not sure. Here is the pics of the art and the three artifacts I found on the surface after locating the site. The arrowhead was broken in half when I found it, so I glued it back together. I didn't have my camera and took the pictures with my phone. What do you guys think?

 

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[Diggin-N-Dumps]

Cool Stuff..I would love to check that place out

 

[Hutch in PA]

Most definitely. Very cool. Watch out for those rattlers in there.

 

[TejasDigger]

Most definitely. Very cool. Watch out for those rattlers in there.

I'm not worried about the overhang. The rock shelter's are a different story though. That arrowhead looks like a frio don't it?

 

[RGINN]

I have a little experience with that and I'll say they're pictographs. (that means they're painted on, as opposed to petroglyphs which are pecked or carved into the rock) Particularly due to the locations you've described. I can't tell how big they are. Assuming they're not that big, the first one looks like partial handprints. Handprints are very common. The second one....is a whale, in case Barry Fell's folks are reading. Rock art was done for many reasons. Sometimes similar to modern graffiti just out of boredom and sometimes it did impart a message. I found petroglyphs in Utah that gave directions to a camp when you followed them. Sometimes they let you know about the animals you could expect in the area, where to find water, or where the best trail was. They told stories of events that happened to the people. Cool finds, keep lookin, and document them.

 

[TejasDigger]

Thanks!

 

[Noodle]

Looks like bloodied fingerprints made the prints. But I'm no expert!

 

[TejasDigger]

Looks like bloodied fingerprints made the prints. But I'm no expert!

It's not blood.

 

[Tnmountains]

Probably a red ochre and charcoal. Very cool finds. I would go back and shoot pics with a good camera. I can imagine many fine artifacts waiting to be discove rd there as well.
Thanks for sharing and have fun.
TnMtns

 

[TejasDigger]

Probably a red ochre and charcoal. Very cool finds. I would go back and shoot pics with a good camera. I can imagine many fine artifacts waiting to be discove rd there as well.
Thanks for sharing and have fun.
TnMtns

Thanks! I'll take a camera next time.

 

[Boomdeyada]

That point in the center, yes looks like a Frio. Would have been nice it the corner wasn't broken. Nice just the same though.
For sure next time bring a good camera.