Hunter-Gatherer Canid Petroglyphs in the Wind River and Bighorn Basins of Wyoming

James J. Stewart

Hunter-Gatherer Canid Petroglyphs in the Wind River and Bighorn Basins of Wyoming

Year: 2001

Summary

Big game, large bird, and canid (dog/wolf/coyote) figures are the most obvious zoomorph petroglyph motifs in the Bighorn and Wind River Basins. Canid petroglyph motifs, with many apparently dating 2000-6000 B.P., or possibly older, tend to prevail in specific areas of the southern Bighorn and northeastern Wind River Basins. The geographic distribution of these canid motifs appears to be more than coincidental. Examination of known/recorded Wind River and Bighorn Basin canid motif petroglyph figures is attempted in this paper. Some references to canid motifs occurring in other art forms, oral tradition, and historic accounts are also made. There is an endeavor to demonstrate many of the Wind River and Bighorn Basin canid petroglyph motifs appear to have a deliberate spatial relationship with other petroglyphs. These often include select anthropomorph motifs, thus creating possible "combined" or "shared" human/canid motifs. The Wyoming canid petroglyph motifs raise several questions. First, do the canid petroglyph motifs represent domesticated dog, wolf, or coyote? Second, as dog, wolf, or coyote motifs, do the canid petroglyphs represent some sort of tribal or clan geographic behavior, marker or symbol, somewhat in the fashion of a tribal totem or guard dog symbol? Third, why do the Wyoming canid motifS not appear to represent portraits of domesticated dog a<> beasts of burden or participating in big and small game hunting activities? Fourth, are the canid petroglyph motifs graphic demonstrations of prehistoric animals being used as shamanistic familiars or spiritual allies as part of ancient man's religious world?

Cite this Record

Hunter-Gatherer Canid Petroglyphs in the Wind River and Bighorn Basins of Wyoming. James J. Stewart. The Wyoming Archaeologist. 45 (2): 7-24. 2001 ( tDAR id: 476392) ; doi:10.48512/XCV8476392