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Archaeological Excavation
Petroglyphs and Pictographs
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Images of a face and seven coppers, painted in red ochre
on a vertical rock wall were an "advertisement" for a local chief from
the Tyee area of the lower Skeena River.
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Images carved and painted on rocks anchored the rich mythology of the
Tsimshian people to the landscape of Prince Rupert harbour. The
petroglyphs (carved images) and pictographs (painted images) will
forever bear witness to the teachings and triumphs of the culture
heroes of the Tsimshian.
Shamans often carved images of supernatural beings or themselves on
vertical rock faces at secluded spots in the forest. This was done by
slowly pecking away the bedrock with a pointed pebble of harder stone.
The images shown here include scenes of shamans communing with grizzly
bears, who represented the messengers to the spirit masters of fish and
game. The bears enticed the spirits to release more fish and game for
the shaman's people to hunt and trap.
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