The Landscape of Klamath Basin Rock Art

Klamath Basin’s ethnographic record is limited on the subject of rock art. Direct statements made about these markings are rare, and those that exist are often cryptic, vague, and shrouded in cultural metaphor. In spite of this, sufficient ethnographic information exists for us to link rock art directly to shamanism. Because of this, we are able to expand what is known about the symbols in two important ways. First, a general understanding of the local shamanic practice allows us to identify cultural perceptions of the supernatural world. This understanding enables us to observe how these perceptions carried over into rock art. It furthermore provides an examination of various shamanic ceremonial practices, thus allowing us to identify situations where the creation and use of rock art would be appropriate. Second, ethnographic discussions on shamanism link a number of shamans’ spirit-helpers to Klamath Basin mythology. This connection opens the door to a literature that not only identifies a wider pantheon of spirit-helpers, but also describes the nature of their supernatural powers in great detail. In this chapter we examine a Modoc pictograph site following these principles, with particular emphasis on Klamath Basin ethnography, mythology, and local artistic conventions.