Minnesota Prehistory

Jeffers Petroglyph Site

This is the last large group of rock carvings remaining in southern Minnesota. It contains over two thousand carvings which have been dated in two groups. The earliest group is from the period between 3,00 B.C. and 500 B.C. This determination is based upon the presence of atlatls in almost 100 of the carvings. Further, there is only one image of a bow and arrow within this group. From the presence of glyphs and other symbols which were utilized by early historic peoples the second group has been dated to between 900 A.D. and 1750 A.D.

This site is located in southwestern Minnesota, and is still accessible to the public. In 1966 the Minnesota Historical Society purchased the land on which the site resides to preserve it.

A detailed look at North American cave art is available on the Ancient Rock Art display.

Bibliography

Lothson, Gordon Allan. The Jeffers Petroglyphs Site: A Survey and Analysis of the Carvings. Minnesota Historical Society St. Paul 1976.