Recently, six-hundred-year-old stone carvings have been uncovered along the shores of Oahu, Hawaii, at the Pililaau Army Recreation Center.
The petroglyphs, which depict human figures and abstract symbols carved by ancient Hawaiians, had been partially revealed in 2016 but are usually concealed beneath sand, surfacing only temporarily due to natural changes in the environment.
Dave Crowley, the manager of US Army Garrison Hawaii’s Cultural Resources Management Program (CRMP), noted that seasonal shifts in tide and wave energy unburied the entire panel for the first time since its discovery in 2016.
“It’s fascinating to witness how nature can reveal these striking symbols, and it has sparked renewed interest in the archaeological significance of the site,” Crowley said in a statement.
The recently exposed carvings consist of 26 distinct symbols, with 18 appearing as human-like figures etched in a stick figure style.
These images, measuring between 15 centimeters and over 2 meters, stretch across a sandstone panel that is 35 meters long.
Army archaeologist Alton Exzabe highlighted the uniqueness of certain carvings, particularly those of figures with distinctive fingers.
Many petroglyphs typically stand only a foot tall, but some of these carvings measure between 4 and 5 feet from head to toe, making them an impressive sight along the beach.
Despite the striking nature of these carvings, dating them accurately poses significant challenges for researchers.
Laura Gilda, the principal archaeologist for CRMP, indicated that while pinpointing an exact date is difficult, estimates suggest that these petroglyphs could be as old as 600 years, based on findings in nearby sites.
“The importance of documenting these sites is to share them with the community while ensuring their protection,” Gilda remarked.
Determining the original purpose of the petroglyphs is equally elusive.
Patrick V. Kirch, a historical anthropologist from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, mentioned that the context and location of the carvings might hint at various functions.
“Given the proximity to the beach, it’s possible they were created to commemorate the arrival of voyagers from other islands. However, this remains speculation,” Kirch explained.
The recently unearthed carvings represent just a small portion of Hawaii’s extensive collection of ancient petroglyphs.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park alone is home to thousands of petroglyphs carved into the island’s lava rock, alongside other significant sites like the Puakō Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve and the Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park.
Interestingly, similar Hawaiian-style petroglyphs have also been discovered on Foa Island in Tonga, located 5,000 kilometers southwest of Hawaii.
Mark D. McCoy, an archaeologist at Florida State University, emphasizes that petroglyphs can be found on every Hawaiian island, with a known inventory exceeding 24,000 individual glyphs.
“Initial efforts to catalog these carvings identified 135 sites, but ongoing discoveries continue to emerge, indicating that there’s still much to uncover,” McCoy stated.
He added that although researchers have an understanding of where the largest concentrations of images are located, they anticipate more discoveries to come.
Ancient Hawaiian artists utilized stone tools to etch, peck, and scrape their designs into the rock.
Common depictions among these petroglyphs include human forms, often represented as stick figures with objects like fishhooks and clubs, alongside representations of animals, spirits, and geometric designs.
McCoy noted that the meaning and significance of these images are largely subjective and open to interpretation.
Most petroglyphs lack widely known oral traditions that might provide cultural context for interpretation, except for a few that are well documented.
One specific example is the grid patterns pecked into stone to create boards for the traditional game Kōnane.
As the shifting sands of Oahu will soon obscure the ancient petroglyphs again at Pililaau Army Recreation Center, they remain an important part of Hawaii’s cultural heritage.
“Stewarding these lands is vital to our mission,” Crowley emphasized.
“By protecting cultural sites like these petroglyphs, we honor Hawaii’s rich heritage and foster stronger community ties.”
image source from：theartnewspaper
