Nova Scotia Archives

George Creed - Mi'kmaq Petroglyphs

Tracing of a petroglyph of a dragonfly and a tree

Date: 1888

Petroglyph tracings N: Nondescript and unclassified #44. 1 positive. Marion Robertson's Rock Drawings of the Micmac Indians interpret this petroglyph as "a dragonfly and tree…The triangular device with incurving lines attached at the base of the tree suggests that the drawing is saying something about a deceased chief, incurving lines being the symbol of death, outward curving lines the symbol of life. The dragonfly perhaps had special significance as among some Indian tribes the dragonfly was regarded as possessing supernatural power."

Reference: George Creed - Petroglyphs Nova Scotia Archives MG 15 Vol. 15 N44

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