Here are some random notes by the wayside about the local petroglyphs that I thought some might enjoy. Belfast, of course, is the best known site, but many might not be aware that are some surrounding Susanville.
In 1918, Russell Brownell, who dubbed the Belfast petroglyphs Council Crest urged Congressman John Raker to designate it as a park. Nothing happened. However, nearly seventy years later as to what is referred to as the Willow Creek Rim was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1949, Francis Riddell while engaged in some major archeological work in the region, spent considerable time collecting information on the Honey Lake Valley Paiute Ethnography. He spent countless hours interviewing members of the Joaquin family. The following is a summation about what he was able to glean about the petroglyphs. “The name for the petroglyphs was tumadai, ‘magic” or ‘trick.’ Only certain people knew what they meant. Kitty Joaquin, however, stated a more common name for the petroglyphs was numutubon ‘Indian writing.’ Susy Buster said that the petroglyphs were only known to those who put them on and the snake elements were put on by those who had an understanding of snakes.”
Finally, back in the late 1960s the Lassen County Historical Society published a bulletin on Petroglyphs by Tom Eilers.