I went camping at Bon Echo Provincial Park. There were many fun things to do including swimming, hiking and eating but my favourite was renting a canoe to check out the pictographs on Mazinaw Rock…Ok, it actually tied with eating.
I bet you’re wondering what a pictograph is.
Pictographs are rock paintings that can be found all over the world. It’s thought that in Ontario and at Bon Echo the pictographs were created by The Algonquin Tribe, one of Canada’s native people. The pictures found on the rock were made between 400 and 900 years ago.
These 260 drawings were created to mark territories, important events or made for spiritual reasons. They are usually located three feet above the water.
On Mazinaw Rock you can see drawings such as the Thunderbird and the Underwater Lynx. I’m sure if you look hard enough you might be able to find a sacred chicken.
The Bon Echo drawings were painted with the mineral hematite or red ochre. Natives painted these images with their fingers, sticks or paint brushes made from plant material.
We don’t ever want to lose these historical drawings so remember DO NOT TOUCH OR PECK THE PICTOGRAPHS.
You can find out more about these pictures at the Visitor’s Centre.