Rock with arrows and an "x" on it?????

[2goldennuggets]

Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

A long time friend of the family is the owner of this rock. I have known about this rock for 20 years but lost touch with this owner/friend up until recently. I asked the friend if she still had that O'l rock and when she said she did I then begged the her for a couple of pics.

I tried to get all the information about this rock that I could but the owner could't recall much about the rock. She said the rock was given to her by a friend but the owner said that she has lost touch with her old friend over the years. All she could tell me was the rock was "possibly" from south central to south eastern Oklahoma but was not for sure. I told her I would post this on the web on a few sites to see if anyone could help. I've instructed the owner to try and locate this old friend to get more info on this rock.

My memory card on the camera was full and all I got was these two pics. It is a little hard to see from my pic but the arrows and the X are raised about 1/8".

Anyone with any Ideas, theories, or info please post or PM me.

Thanks,
2goldennuggets
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt82/arrowheadscout/055.jpg
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt82/arrowheadscout/056.jpg

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

Well............of course you don't chisel a sign this way.....................now that we have sand blasters!

But they did then! lol And that is based on my study of stone workings of the early to late 19th century.

Tim

Could you post a pic of an example please. I do not study old carvings but I cannot imagine chiseling this way. A pic will help convince. A cemetery stone is not a good example.

It may not be old but this is my idea of a carving. I cannot imagine chiseling out the entire background to leave raised lettering... unless you wanted to sell the rock as an artistic creation such as on a cemetery stone..

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

Also, the dark raised area, and lighter background make sense. I once had a stone house. A representative from the county warned me never to do any sandblasting or abrasive cleaning of the stone. He said it breaks the "hard shell" that takes hundreds of years to form and the stone would then begin to "erode" with rains beating on the side of the house. I would tend to think this stone was chiseled, leaving only the "hard shell of the stone" on the raised surfaces.

My guess is: that a type of trail marker is correct, marking a hazzard ahead, such as quick sand, or drop off into a ravine of some kind that needed to be avoided.

Just my 2c.

Tim

A lot of what you say makes sense but wouldnt it be prudent to carve the warning on a large boulder, something not so easily moved?

 

[deepbeep]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

I have many.....having trouble posting because they are too big. I have a meeting, then will resize them and post at lunch.

Here is a face carved by native americans that is done in releif on the side of a rock wall.

Tim

 

[deepbeep]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

bigcypresshunter,

Yes, that is true, if there were large rocks right in the right place, but what if they had to carry a rock 5 miles to make a marker?

Tim

 

[Old Dog]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

bigcypresshunter,

Yes, that is true, if there were large rocks right in the right place, but what if they had to carry a rock 5 miles to make a marker?

Tim

I have rocks that were used as markers that were brought from as far as 40 miles or more away.

 

[deepbeep]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

LOL....I just want to say, though we have all been debating, and only partly agree....but disagree on much, it has remained a friendly debate. For that....I thank everybody! ;-)

Tim

 

[IronSpike]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

How big is the rock? How big were the rocks carried miles for markers?

I sure hope this one wasn't for marking quick sand

 

[Old Dog]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

15 or 20 lbs,
about the size of a persons head or a little bigger.

 

[IronSpike]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

I see from the other pic of the rock that it's about the size of a hand. If used as a marker wouldn't you risk it getting pushed/moved and the marking thereby lost?

 

[Old Dog]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

The rocks I speak of are used as eye catchers, and corner markers. they show a stone that isn't native to the area.
Therefore worthy of a second look. They usually only have one sharp side and it points to another marker stone within 30 or 40 feet.

 

[IronSpike]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

The rocks I speak of are used as eye catchers, and corner markers. they show a stone that isn't native to the area.
Therefore worthy of a second look. They usually only have one sharp side and it points to another marker stone within 30 or 40 feet.

I read your posted thread on signs and it's very interesting. I think that's what got me sidetracked and reason why it took me awhile to post my support for the sandblast suggestion

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

LOL....I just want to say, though we have all been debating, and only partly agree....but disagree on much, it has remained a friendly debate. For that....I thank everybody! ;-)

Tim

We always try. Differing opinions are always welcome. Sometimes one person refuses to believe overwhelming evidence and feelings get hurt. Hopefully this debate will remain freindly as the evidence is presented.

It looks exactly like what a sandblasted image from a hand cut stencil would look like. The process involves simply cutting a rubber sheet with a razor knife. I am hoping someone will post a known tourist rock and we can compare.

I am looking forward to seeing something similar chiseled by hand.

 

[deepbeep]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

Raised letters...............not sandblasted!
Tim

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

Raised letters...............not sandblasted!
Tim

Looks like cast concrete! Either way it is almost a work of art, made by a professional. That is hardly a good comparison to a hastily hand carved rock on the trail IMHO.

I did a quick search and yes there are handcarved headstones done in relief in rock. Think about Mount Rushmore. I just dont think this is a good comparison.

 

[Old Dog]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

Raised letters...............not sandblasted!
Tim

Looks like cast concrete! Either way it is a work of art. That is hardly a good comparison to a hastily hand carved rock on the trail IMHO.

I did a quick search and yes there are handcarved headstones done in relief in rock. Think about Mount Rushmore. I just dont think this is a good comparison.

You will notice the background is pocked with tool marks.
That is what is missing on our stone in question.
It is just too smooth....Sandblasting does that.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

Sandblasating often leaves a sloped edge like we see. It depends on the sandblasting operator and the fit of the stencil. Tooling will leave sharp edges.

 

[mtntrekr2]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

I think the markings are in reference to the roundabout in the center of the town of Bedrock.

Maybe this will help with the age
Joe

 

[deepbeep]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

Tooling will leave sharp edges when new, but I was allowing for weather and erosion of rain etc. for rounding off the edges. One thing that is bothering me though is the way the inside of the arrow is round. I was a t work when all this started. Now that I am home and can really study it, I will have to concede to the possibility it is sand blasted.

I hope I didn't offend anybody.....lol...sometimes I am a little bull headed. Many things about this rock just looked "right" to me, but upon really close examination, you all have some valid points. I will concede the possibility.

lol.....Tim

 

[Old Dog]

Re: Rock with arrows and an "x" on it??

Tim,
I have some signs that others say are Native American in nature because they are the pecked type.
When looked at closely the native ones can be attributed to controlled pecking or hammering with a harder stone.
The ones I think are Spanish are pecked with something very hard and sharp. leaving deep pock marks throughout the sign.
Here are pictures of each.