G42 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY. 



EOCK-CAEVINGS ON THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER. 



By F. G. Galbraith, of Bainbridge, Pa. 



The rock referred to in this j^aper was originally 71 feet in length 

 and 10 feet in width. Seventeen feet on the west and 16 on the east 

 remain undisturbed. The center, 38 feet in length, was blasted away 

 many years ago, and the stone used in the construction of a shad-lish- 

 er}^, by which many carvings were undoubtedly destroyed, traces of 

 which I discovered upon fragments of rock lying scattered over the 

 upper end of the island. The rock was evidently a continued mass of 

 sculpturing, and hundreds of these may yet be traced with a little care. 

 A large portion of the east end is becoming detached from the main 

 body, and will in the course of a few years topple over, face foremost, 

 into the river. Many of the carvings, which are undoubtedly of a 

 very remote date, are much defaced by the elements. This statement 

 relates more particularly to those on the north and east ends, which I 

 impute to the changing in the course of the stream at this particular 

 point. The rock being located at the head of Grey Rock Falls, is sub- 

 ject to much wear by swift water. For this reason, and the fact that the 

 rock is composed of talcose slate, it is my impression that the carvings 

 were originally deeply cut, which evidence can again be traced in the 

 east and south end carvings, all of which are much deeper than those 

 ou any other portion of the rock. The large circular carving is tlie only 

 one traceable by compass on the rocks, and faces "nine o'clock, sun- 

 rise." The tracings were all taken by actual measurements from dead- 

 lines made upon the rock, one perpendicular through the center of the 

 carving and another across. The one from which the tracings were 

 made is slightly enlarged to show it more plainly. The small island (a 

 fishery) which it connects is probably 80 feet long by 20 broad at its 

 widest point. Tlie large rock on the opposite side of the middle chan- 

 nel is about 150 yards distant, having several carvings upon it. I am 

 unable to say whether the spring and fall floods rise sufficiently high 

 to cover the largo projecting rocks below the small island so as to 

 change the course of the stream at that point, but do not think so, as 

 the fall of water is about 8 feet to the mile. Mr. French informed me, 

 however, that the rock and island were accessible in very dry seasons, 

 so that it does not appear necessary that boats should have been brought 

 into requisition by the natives, or if so, only in case of high water, 

 while at work upon the rock. The outer rock can only be reached by 

 boat. 



