petroglyph

American  

[pe-troh-glif, pe-truh-] / ˈpɛ troʊˌglɪf, ˈpɛ trə- /

noun

1. an image, design, or message carved or drawn on rock by a member of an ancient or prehistoric people.

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petroglyph British  

/ ˈpɛtrəˌɡlɪf /

noun

1. a drawing or carving on rock, esp a prehistoric one

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Other Word Forms

• petroglyphic adjective
• petroglyphy noun

Etymology

Origin of petroglyph

First recorded in 1865–70; from French pétroglyphe; equivalent to petro- ¹ + glyph

Example Sentences

On both sides of the river are petroglyphs that are at least 7,000 years old, depicting mostly hunting scenes.

From Washington Post

Caltech has agreed to pay $25,465 to cover restoration costs after a researcher damaged a protected petroglyph site sacred to Native Americans.

From Los Angeles Times

NW at Western Trail, Albuquerque 505-899-0205 nps.gov/petr/index.htm Three trails explore petroglyphs left by ancestral Puebloans and the Spanish on volcanic rocks on the western side of Albuquerque.

From Washington Post

In Buffalo Eddy, an archaeological site 22 miles south of Lewiston, vivid petroglyphs hint at the Nez Perce’s 8,000-year-long tenure of the land, though Morfin believes the timeline is twice as long.

From New York Times

The bolts have since been removed, but damage to the petroglyphs is forever, said Elizabeth Hora, archaeologist for the Utah State Historic Preservation Office.

From Seattle Times