Carved Stone Figures in the Plateau (Photo Diary)

The Maryhill Museum located near Goldendale, Washington, has a display of Plateau stone artifacts. The Plateau Culture Area is the area between the Cascade Mountains and the Rocky Mountains in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia, and Western Montana. From north to south it runs from the Fraser River in the north to the Blue Mountains in the south. Much of the area is classified as semi-arid. Part of it is mountainous with pine forests in the higher elevations.

 photo P1090010_zpsdp4df767.jpg The shaded area on the map shown above designates the Plateau Culture Area.

The meaning or function of the carved stone figures is not known. According to the Museum display:

“In studying prehistoric materials, utilitarian objects are quite easily identified, but the meaning of artistic motifs often remains obscure.”

 photo P1090019_zps9khco3ln.jpg  photo P1090020_zpsxlx0rwtg.jpg  photo P1090056_zpsblknbeec.jpg  photo P1090022_zpseji0tr3x.jpg  photo P1090024_zps7c2qnfwy.jpg  photo P1090041_zps06iorjeq.jpg  photo P1090043_zpsjgvuac69.jpg  photo P1090045_zpsnsjqzjri.jpg  photo P1090047_zpsoqsy01tq.jpg  photo P1090052_zpsvokpxtcg.jpg  photo P1090053_zpsl5b1oevx.jpg  photo P1090049_zpsqgrcpdb9.jpg

According to the Museum display:

“The image of a human head with opposed faces has been used by cultures in widely separated parts of the world at various times. It would be wrong to assume that these cultures have any connection. Instead, it would seem that this theme has an appeal that relies on the commonality of human experience.”

Maryhill MuseumThe Maryhill Museum of Art is shown above.

2 Comments

  1. OK. Please make sure the photos on these websites are given to the Smithsonian. I’m sure the Smithosian would be happy to make copies for themselves.

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