Bird Rattle’s Petroglyphs at Writing-On-Stone:Continuity in the Biographic Rock Art Tradition

Abstract

Writing-On-Stone is well-known for its Plains Biographic rock art, characterized by distinctive motifs and narrative compositions. Biographic rock art flourished from the Late Prehistoric period throughout the nineteenth century. Although related images were drawn on hides and paper well into the twentieth century, it was unclear whether Biographic rock art also persisted this late. The recent discovery of photographs and narrative of a 1924 trip by Roland Willcomb and Pi egan elder Bird Rattle demonstrates that a well-known historic petroglyph at Writing-On-Stone was carved by this Plains warrior as part of the Biographic rock art tradition. Aside from showing a continuity of Biographic rock art well into the twentieth century, the positive attribution of these glyphs to an Indian artist supports the use of stylistic criteria to identify rock art ethnicity. Finally, the photographs and notes that Willcomb took on this trip provide significant insight into the sacred nature of Writing-On-Stone

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