[Back to List of Endangered Sites]
Location: Wisconsin, USA (exact location not disclosed for the protection of the site)
Official Listing: National Register of Historic Places, 1991
Significance: The Hensler Petroglyph Site is a panel of 33 petroglyphs on a seam of andalusite schist. The iconology of the panel ranges from Early Archaic (8,000 BPE) to Mississippian (900-1400 BPE). In addition, there is an occupational component under excavation.
Very few cases of rock art excavation have occurred in North America and it is hoped that articulation may be established between the petroglyphs and habitation site. It is also a very old site, exhibiting iconography patently Archaic, with potential for even earlier horizons. The pecked image of a lanceolate projectile point with a concave base suggests Paleo-Indian origin (10-11,000 BPE).
The Threat: Weathering
Preservation Status: The site lies within a privately owned working quarry. Occasional blast rubble falls on the site, but has so far not caused any noticeable damage. Trees have grown up around the site, and produced a lot of shade, which in turn, causes substantial lichen growth that is invading the petroglyphs. There is also substantial abrasive run-off.
Nominated By: Mid-America Geographic Foundation
For More Information: Sacred Sites Newsletter Volume XX, Numbers 1 & 2, Fall 2008/Winter 2009
You may also like
1 thought on “Hensler Petroglyph”
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
As a child going to visit my grandparents I was always drawn to an area of large rocks. Sitting on them in the warm summer sun made me feel at peace and one with nature. Now I know why. It would be an unforgivable tragedy to let a sacred site go to ruin.