Around the World, many petroglyphs have been found, but their meaning and in some cases who made them is greatly debated among archaeologists. Recently, while vacationing on the isle on St. John in the United States Virgin Islands, I learned of some petrogylphs on the Southern portion of the island through the national park service there. When I went on the hike down to see them, I was amazed at their simpleness, yet some of the symbols looked much akin to Arabic symbols. The parks service said the origins of the petroglyphs were by the Taino Indians. Before that, pre-Columbian hunter-gatherers about 3,000 years ago could have also carved them. Yet their meaning and context is largely unknown. Another theory about the origins of there petroglyphs was that they were made by African slaves brought to the island during the sugarcane plantation days. The Taino Indians, or other native american tribes that inhabited the island before the arrival of Columbus, who killed off or merged with these other more primitive hunter-gatherer native americans. These later native americans (Taino) were thought to have migrated from around South America and the Caribbean and were farmers. People think that the petroglyph site was used for spiritual purposes. The surrounding area at the time would have been a waterfall and a stream running through the area. Archaeologists say that there are other sites like this around the Caribbean said to have been made by the Taino Indians. Well I have some pictures of the petroglyphs I took myself, for your viewing pleasures. This topic is for your ideas on the origins and the purpose of these petroglyphs as well as others around the world. Post any other site you find interesting as well and feel free to discuss and ponder the origins of some of the wondrous rock carvings around the world.

- Regards, Bokonon

Here is the link to the website, because I couldn't scale down the images to the proper size needed to post them here.

http://www.msnusers.com/U-MForum/shoebox.msnw?Page=1
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From the age of the glyphs one can suppose that they were meant as some kind of record of events, maybe to show the position of the sunrise when certain plants could be harvested or when Salmons could be fished.

In all cultures the transition of pre-history to history happened when people needed to remember certain recurring happenings to organize their life's. In cultures that transited to agriculture the important events were the right time to plant and sow. With sedentary hunters and gatherers the records would be about the right time to pursue certain animals. (See the introduction to Alan Kerpa, Footnotes in History).

The problem with this type of records was that only a small number of people could interpret them and once an accident happened the knowledge was lost.

As there is a lack of methodology in the conception of these symbols we will, most probably, never be able to understand them.

You said the the glyphs looked Arabic. That could very well be possible for along with glyphs other things have been found in the New World that are of the Old World such as coins. I have put a link to a website that I have found before that spoke of various coin findings in America that are from Pre-Christian Europe.

Coins found in America

I have an interest in petroglyph's too, from cave paintings to carvings in rocks, I think that this glimpse into the minds of our ancestors is amazing. I agree with questionmark that they will probably never be fully understood, but I think its worth trying.

The glyphs you mention - its quite a difficult starting point as you have three possible cultures that carved them (or perhaps all three contributed?!) I would look at each of the cultures that could have been responsible and see what other sites are available for comparative data. Also do you know if there are any settlements nearby, and have they been excavated?

Fantastic pictures - thank you for sharing

meh they arent all that insane

I don't understand what you are getting at R3Load... Am I being dense?