Petroglyphic Boulders

Petroglyphic Boulders

Granodiorite

Baldwin Hall

Two oval boulders rest in the shade in front of Baldwin Hall, often unnoticed by passing students. Petroglyphs are not new to Georgian history, but not much is known about how these two arrived at UGA. The smaller boulder originates from Squirrel Mountain and was given to the university by White County citizens in the 1930s. The larger boulder comes from near Mount Tabor Church in Forsyth County. The businessman Hal Vaughn later donated the object in 1963.

However, even less is known about the markings. In George White’s Statistics of Georgia (1849), the first written record of the Forsyth boulder, no one could explain the petroglyph symbols. If you come closer to these boulders, you will notice they share similar patterns of precise circles and lines. Walk around them or examine this 3D model online. Try to make observations from multiple angles. Have you seen these symbols before? What do they make you think of?

These questions drive the speculation surrounding the boulders. Some stereotypical narratives state these patterns depict sacred or ritual dances. Former UGA Professor David Hally explains these markings may refer to celestial bodies or nature cycles. In another perspective, visual comparisons can also be made to Swift Creek (100-800 CE) stamped pottery. These patterns often served as maps of interaction. As you move on to the next stop, consider how you engage with other people and objects. How would you record your life and the interactions you make?

Discussion Prompts:

Have you learned about or engaged with Native American history? What kind of role does it play in your life?

What kind of interactions do you have in your daily lives? Do you record them, and if so, how?

Further Learning:

To learn more about Swift Creek pottery, please examine this video from the Florida Museum of Natural History.

To learn more about written records regarding the Forsyth Petroglyph, please examine this article.