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A Bear's Claw?
This painting in Rock House
Cave appears to represent the
claw of a bear. Numerous other
designs can be found on the
walls of the cave. Some are easy
to interpret but some remain
quite mysterious.

Among the more fascinating sights to
be seen in Arkansas' caves and rock
shelters are the ancient pictographs
or paintings done hundreds, perhaps
even thousands of years ago, by
ancient Native American artists.

Many of these paintings have been
destroyed and others are no longer
accessible, but at Petit Jean State
Park's Rock House Cave, visitors can
still examine the ancient art up close.

The cave is located down a short trail
from one of the mountain's parking
lots and is situated in the bluffs
overlooking Cedar Falls. The
paintings have faded with time, but
can quickly be discovered by using a
flashlight and looking carefully.

Their significance and exact age are
unknown. Archaeologists believe,
however, that the paintings in Rock
House Cave are probably more than
one thousand years old. Excavations
in and around the cave revealed that it
was used by Native Americans for
thousands of years.

The trail to Rock House Cave is well-marked
on park maps and easy to follow. The walk
back up the hill is a little strenuous. At the
cave itself, exhibits explain the significance of
the paintings and provide other information
about the cave.