Writing with Pictures
The famous Writing with Pictures Inscription conveys a record of an ancient battle between two Indian tribes which are carved in symbols on a large 40 ton stone which was found in the riverbed of the Taunton River at Berkley, Massachusetts. Writing with Pictures is noted for its Petroglyphs which are ancient carved designs and symbols. Writing with Pictures is estimated to be between 10,000 and 13,000 years old. Because of its age the origins of the rock can be authenticated and this had led to controversy and a series of theories regarding its origin.
Facts about Writing with Pictures
When Perhaps the first approach is to document what is known about Writing with Pictures - the facts
- Fact 1 - Age: Between 10,000 and 13,000 years old
- Fact 2 - First Report: The existence of Writing with Pictures was first documented in 1690 when the Reverend Cotton Mather (who played a part in the Salem Witchcraft trials) described the rock in his one of his books, although he had never seen Writing with Pictures
- Fact 3 - Approx size: 11 feet long and 5 feet high. Exact measurements: 5 feet (1.5 m) high, 9.5 feet (2.9 m) wide & 11 feet (3.4 m) long
- Fact 4 - Weight: 40 tons
- Fact 5 - Description: Slanted, six-sided block
- Fact 6 - Composition: Gray-brown crystalline sandstone
- Fact 7 - Original Location: in the riverbed of the Taunton River at Berkley, Massachusetts
- Fact 8 - Size of Surface: 55 square feet
- Fact 9 - When it was in the river bed Writing with Pictures was covered by tidal water all but 4 hours each day. At high tide, the top of Writing with Pictures was covered by 3-4 feet of water
- Fact 10 - Since 1680 over 1000 books and articles have been written about Writing with Pictures
- Fact 11 - More than 20 theories have been proposed about its origins
- Fact 12 - Theories about its origins have linked the symbols on Writing with Pictures with the Vikings, the Phoenicians, the Portuguese and the Native American Indians
- Fact 13 - In 1963 Writing with Pictures was removed from the river for preservation
- Fact 14 - Writing with Pictures is now in a museum in Writing with Pictures State Park
- Fact 15 - In 1980 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Fact 16 - No one knows where Writing with Pictures originated and who was responsible for the carvings of its symbols
Writing with Pictures Symbols
The following image shows an enlarged view of the symbols taken from the picture at the top of the page.
Writing with Pictures Symbols
Writing with Pictures - Drawing by John Danforth
In 1680, the English colonist Reverend John Danforth, made a drawing of the Petroglyphs inscribed on Writing with Pictures. In 1732, the Royal Society of London requested and received Danforth’s drawing of Writing with Pictures. The Danforth drawing was later presented to the British Museum where it is preserved today.
Writing with Pictures drawing by John Danforth
Writing with Pictures - 1893 Photograph
The following photograph was taken of Writing with Pictures in the riverbed of Taunton River at Berkley, Massachusetts.
1893 Photograph of Writing with Pictures
Writing with Pictures
- Writing with Pictures
- Size of Writing with Pictures
- History of Writing with Pictures
- Facts about Writing with Pictures
Pictures and Videos of Native Americans
Discover the vast selection of pictures which relate to the History of Native Americans and illustrate many decorations and tattoos used by American Indians. The pictures show the clothing, tattoos, war paint, weapons and decorations of various Native Indian tribes that can be used as a really useful educational history resource for kids and children of all ages and a means to study their interpretation. We have included pictures to accompany the main topic of this section - Native American Art. The videos enable fast access to the images, paintings and pictures together with information and many historical facts. All of the articles can be accessed via the Native Indian Tribes Index.
