Hidden in a granite rock shelter near an ancient Kumeyaay village site is a set of unique pictographs. Most of these pictographs are typical of the La Rumorosa Style but what is unusual here are the skeleton figures. I have not seen them anywhere else in the Kumeyaay territory.
Some speculate that these skeleton figures symbolize a shaman reaching a state of trance, the death of the physical body, and entering into the spiritual world.
This is a special and sacred place. Please respect it.
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
55 photos
I spot what looks like a grinding slick off my trail.
Looks like a mano sitting there too.
Grinding area
Hedgehog cactus
In bloom
This Larkspur was a surprise to see.
Pottery sherd
Side view of the pottery piece
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
More pieces of pottery. I left them all where I found them.
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
Lots of bits of pottery here. That's a good sign.
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
A collection pile
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
Pottery sherds
Previous visitors have left an offering in a small mortar.
It took a little bit of searching but I finally find the pictograph shelter.
The ceiling of the shelter is amazing!
There are a lot of pictographs here.
This skeleton anthropomorph is amazing!
This is a false color D-Stretch of the pictograph
Skeleton figure
Close up
If you look close you can see the lines connect. Rainwater has washed some of the pictograph away.
This false color image shows the lines connecting
Faded pictograph
This pictograph shows up in this false color D-Stretch image
Looks like suns and stars
False color D-Stretch image
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
False color D-Stretch image
One of the two orange circles
This circle has something in the center but it is hard to tell.
False color D-Stretch image of hte circle
Another skeleton figure
This figure shows up very well in this false color D-Stretch image
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
This always makes me think of a junction of two washes
False color D-Stretch image
Very faint figure
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
Canebrake Wash Skeleton Pictographs
The main part of the panel
This looks like a metate
I spot a few more pottery sherds
This is an amazing place but it is time to head home.
Last Updated on July 8, 2020 by Guy Starbuck
