Petroglyph

Nanaimo River estuary

The Nanaimo River Estuary (100 Kb) is the largest estuary on Vancouver Island. Estuaries are incredibly rich and diverse habitats where fresh water from rivers meets salt water from the ocean. The Nanaimo estuary, like other estuaries, provides important habitat for migratory birds, fish and wildlife. Understandably, the Nanaimo River estuary has been a significant place for Snuneymuxw First Nation for generations. Unfortunately, like so many estuaries, the pressures of urban development, industrialization, transportation and recreation have seriously damaged the health of this special place.

Of the four salmon species depicted on the Jack Point Petroglyph, only two, the Coho and Dog Salmon (or chum), run with any regularity or vitality. There are Chinook in the river, but they are very rare now and fishing for them is restricted. Unfortunately, the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans opens the season for sport fishing but not for food. Some Snuneymuxw Elders believe that the river is dying because the petroglyph has been removed. They believe the estuary will not be restored to what it once was and will not be able to fully support salmon populations until the petroglyph has been put back in its original place at Jack Point.

Snuneymuxw Petroglyphs

One of the ways in which the Nanaimo area is unique on the west coast is the high concentration of petroglyphs in this area, compared to other places. The Nanaimo area is also distinct in that there are a wide variety of styles in petroglyph design. Generally, there are three main kinds of figures depicted in petroglyphs:

Zoomorphic or animal figures

Anthropomorphic or human figures

Geomorphic or design figures

All three of these petroglyph types are found in great numbers in the Nanaimo area. Many depict humans and animals showing ribs and other bones. It is believed that skeletal type images indicate shamanic or spiritual practices.

Making Petroglyphs

Most petroglyphs, like the Jack Point petroglyph are created on sandstone, a soft and easily eroded rock type commonly found on the west coast of British Columbia. Petroglyphs (as opposed to pictographs which are paintings on stone) are usually fashioned using a stone tool made of a harder rock than sandstone. A rock commonly used for this on the west coast was basalt. The carver would then peck repeatedly into the sandstone repeatedly with the tool to produce the desired design.