An artistic island in the basin

Petroglyph Point represents over 5000 years of history

By Jake Waldren
For the Pioneer Press

Pioneer Press

Fort Jones , CA

530-468-5355

mailto:pioneerp@sisqtel.net

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Page E10, Column 1

KLAMATH BASIN - Straight, jagged cliffs extend from the basin floor into a towering monument of early art. This palpable site, located near Lava Beds National Monument ,
is adorned with carvings of symbols, pictures, names and dates.

Petroglyph Point, as it's known by today is the product of volcanic activity in the basin as long as 270,000 years ago.

At a time when Lake Modoc covered the Klamath Basin , magma was forced through a crack in the earth's crust. This magma piled around the vent creating the Point, an
island where layers of igneous rock are evident in the cliff face and the surrounding ground.

Over 5000 symbols cover this cliff face and nearby boulders, making this site the largest collection of Native American artwork in California and one of the largest in North
America. Estimated in age at 400-5000 years old, these petroglyphs are joined by more modern 'graffiti' such as Japanese characters from residents of the neighboring internment camp of the 1940's.

Also apparent, scattered among early Native symbols, are swastikas. These Nazi signs might be evidence of the German and Italian POW's relocated to the Basin during World
War II, although some locals do not recall seeing these signs until much later.

"Growing up I don't remember swastikas among the petroglyphs, but the fence protecting
them has only been up for ten or fifteen years," stated Malin resident, Dennis Kalina.

Located on the other side of Petroglyph Point, or Castle Rock as it's also known, is Coppock's Flag. Painted 50 feet up the face is one young man's expression of patriotism, a United States flag. In 1917, at age 16, Charles Coppock was too young to join the armed services so he opted to spend his Sunday's decorating the rock wall from a platform constructed of 2 x 4's spiked to the cliff.

The following year Coppock enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served the remainder of World War I. Upon returning home he repainted the flag once before moving to Kansas City . 90 years later this weathered and faded flag still flies as a symbol of freedom in the basin.

The pictogram has yet to be refinished since government agencies claimed management in 1975, and that will most likely not change as it is protected.

"This generation will probably be the last to enjoy Charlie's flag because it will fade in the
next thirty years or so," said Kalina.

Natural erosion is not the only problem facing the monument, past years have seen many
vandals eager to leave their own symbols, names and dates. Early attempts to remove such graffiti only left the rocks more scarred, adding to the mystique of unanswered
questions surrounding Petroglyph Point.

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