Maryland Petroglyphs (rock carvings)

Great Falls

The petroglyph is carved on a rock outcrop located near the Great Falls of the Potomac River. The design consists of three concentric diamonds enclosing three circular depressions, with a tail-like design extending from the top of the outermost diamond. A fish effigy is inferred, and clearly this area would have been a focus for fishing, especially during seasonal fish runs where spawning fish such as shad would have been densely packed in their struggle to surmount the falls during their journey upstream. Also, a number of stone fish weirs have been documented along this stretch of the Potomac. Perhaps the petroglyph marked good fishing grounds, or served as a talisman to ensure a fruitful catch.