Note: The following article is the earliest known published account of the Belfast petroglyphs. There is interest among readers about this topic that I think many will enjoy.
Lassen Advocate, January 5, 1917 – Visited “Lookout Rock” Mr. and Mrs. F.P. Cady, Miss Miriam Colcord, County Librarian and Mr. Bates manager of Indian affairs as their guests, recently motored out to Belfast and spent a delightful day picnicking and examining the Indian hieroglyphics. The date was December 17 and the day was beautiful. It was ‘A Perfect Day,” as balmy as thought it was spring., so warm in fact, that of the gentlemen of the party found greater comfort with coats removed while enjoying lunch under a tree and exploring the interesting relics.
“These strange markings of hieroglyphics are found carved in rock, some of them painted, evidently with the same pigment, which has stood for ages on similar work in other parts of the world. After examine the markings, Mr. Bates stated that in New Mexico and Arizona he had seen what seemed to be same thing. The place seemed to have been in ancient times a lookout or information station and has variously named by those as Lookout rock, and Council rock.
“The oldest Indians in this section have been questioned in regard to this place and the hieroglyphics, and it appears that nothing in their most ancient traditions of this tribe gives reference to them. Which leaves the inference that the time at which this work was done antedates any record of white people or any Indian tradition. In character these hieroglyphics are made up of circles and straight lines with very. little variation of that shape, but seem to have come down through the ages unchanged and unchangeable. The rocks bearing the markings are to size of boulders and therefore probably safe from curio hunters. It is doubtful if very many in this section are aware of the proximity of this extremely interesting spot, which doubtless will in time become one of the points of interest here.”
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