PETROGLYPHS ON THE AMOOR1

Abstract

bear curious petroglyphs, evidently of great antiquity. Unfortunately, most of these are so much obliterated that it seemed impossible to obtain satisfactory photographs; for this reason tracings of the petroglyphs were made on paper placed over the bowlders. The place was visited in the spring, when the river was high, and consequently a number of the petroglyphs were under water. Others were discovered high up on precipitous rocks. Some bowlders which were partly buried in sand were excavated, and proved also to be covered with petroglyphs. The figures represented are partly human faces, partly animals. The general characteristics of the petroglyphs are quite uniform. Figure 29 shows a face of oval form, the nose represented by a triangle, the mouth and lips represented by a single spiral. The eyes also are represented by a spiral ornament, which might be considered as suggesting Chinese affinity. Five lines shown on the forehead probably represent wrinkles or facial painting. Figure 30 represents a figure found on the surface of the same stone from which figure 29 was copied. The similarity of character of these two faces is striking. Figures 31 and 32