Bedford Petroglyphs
On the Bedford Highway, turn up Rutledge Street and then turn right on to Emmerson street. Drive to the end of Emmerson and park near the guard rail that blocks the road from Division Street.
Standing at the guard rail, the ridge that has the petroglyphs is more or less North in the brush between the northwestery driveway of one house and northeastery backyard of another house.
When we visited there were coloured cloth markers in the trees around the spot, perhaps left by the Bedford Shaman Wilderness Group.
It’s a good idea to print off the illustrations of the Petroglyphs above to help you make them out in the stone as they are faint in places.
Image of Bedford Petroglyphs
Bedford Petroglyphs Location
Bedford Petroglyphs
Bedford Petroglyphs
Bedford Petrogylphs
Bedford Petrogylphs
Bedford Petrogylphs
Bedford Petrogylphs
Bedford Petrogylphs
Heaven Glyph Alignments
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Why is it that we know nothing about these historic drawings. Why are they not protected from the elements? Is this mentioned in the natural history museum? I haven’t seen anything about it anywhere. That’s Halifax for you. building sub divisins is more important. Don’t mention the petroglyphs as they will forget and we will be able to bulldoze them for a future sub division.
Hi Lynne,
Good questions. The situations is that these artefacts are in an extremely vunerable situation. There have been countless cases all over North America where sites like this have been vandalized and destroyed. The people who sincerely want to preserve this site in Bedford for future generations really would like as little publicity as possible, since the chances are high that any publicity will raise the likelyhood of vandalism. Due to the particulars of the site, any kind of protective structure that would still allow some public access would be very costly to implement, and almost impossible to do without a highly public campaign, so it is a real catch-22. The site of the Peterborough Petrogyphs, which is similar but which contains at least 1000 times more areal extent of cultural content, solved the problem by building essentially a museum over top of their site, and staffing it. A similar approach was taken with Dighton Rock. On the other hand, the Westford Knight carving in Massachusets (whatever culture one may wish to associate it with) has garnered a committee of local citizens to oversee its protection (it lies next to the sidewalk of a busy road) who arrange to have it covered with wood during the winter and cordon it off with a chain link fence.
The two big petroglyphs outlined in the article (which are adjacent to each other) are not the only ones on the ledge. There are many others in the vicinity, some probably older because they are fainter, some clearly more recent, but they are quite sparse, with a lot of “blank” rock between them.
It’s difficult to think of the best way to proceed in the Bedford case.
Regards,
Terry
Concerning the 400-500 year old Bedford Barrens Mi’Kmaq Petroglyphs located in South Bedford. It has been said that I discovered these two stone carvings! The fact is Michael Ross came across them in and about 1983 while exploring the Bedford Barrens.
One thing I did help accomplish is the protection of these Petroglyphs plus 35 hectares of park land in this area. It was in the early 90s that I served on the “Bedford Barrens Advisory Committee” along with two other members. At that time Len Goucher was the chairman and Peter Kelly was the Mayor of Bedford. This required numerous meeting for a period of about two years until it was placed under the “Special Places Act.”
Concerning the Bedford Barrens Petroglyph shown on this site, (Referred to as: Heaven Glyph Alignment) I also at one time concluded the same interpretation as a Seasonal-Moon Compass. Due to the technicalies in working this concept out I decided not to develope this theory to its fullest extent. Instead I built an Astro-navigational Seasonal-clock based on this same Mi’kmaq stone carving.(This theory and device that I created appeared in The Daily News Aug. 27,1991 by Don Urquart. Sackville/Bedford)
The first stag of my concept works like a compass in relation to the rising and setting of the Sun over the Bedford Bay area. Spruce Island was used to determine the summer and winter seasons in relation to these two petroglyphs located in the Bedford Barrens.
Don Urquhart stated in the Daily News articale: “he (MacNab) suspected the Barren’s Petroglyph because it was north of the island. A mid 1700s map of Halifax, which identified Long Cove as Summer Cove and Mill Cove as Winter Cove, convinced him that his theory was right.” (Check: 1750 Moses Harris, “The Porcupine Map.” This map can be viewed at: Historical Maps of Nova Scotia, NSExplore.) (Also check: 1755-Society of Anti-Galion on the same site.)
Urquhart story continues: “he uses constellations and Petroglyphs as referance points to chart changes in the seasons”.
The Heaven Glyph in this theory of mine, represented the North Star. (Will name it Fig.a) The adjacent glyph that is carved in the shape of a triangle is connected by a string-like carving with what appears to be a Lief Glyph suspended at the end. (Feg. b)
I concluded after months of observing the night sky over Bedford Basin that the Triangle Glyph represented The Summer Triangle.The Lief Glyph would represent the constellation of Capricornus. (Check: Wikipedia-Summer Triangle and also the Capricornus constellation.)
During the summer months of June and July the Summer Triangle in the night sky is situated over Bedford Basin. (Wikipedia: Near midnight the Summer Triangle lies virtually overhead at mid northern latitudes during the summer months.)
The Capricornus constellation is located in the directions of what is known as The Narrows. The lower tip of Capricornus exstends as far as Halifax Harbour looking out from the Bedford Barrens. (Check: 1750- Jefferys, “D’ Anville Map.” Can be viewed at: Historical Maps of Nova Scotia, NSExplore.) This narrow waterway known as The Narrows connects Bedford Basin with Halifax Harbour by means of a narrow waterway. (Wikipedia: The constellation Capricornus is known in an area of sky called the Sea or Water.)
Looking at the Triangle Glyph we have the star Vega in the upper right corner.Vega is the 2nd brightest star in the northern celestial hemispher. This no doubt would explain the largeness of the circle on this section of the triangle. (Many small dotes would no doubt be stars.) Next, Deneb would be located on the left side corner of the Triangle Glyph. (The many small dotes would no doubt be stars.) Then, the star Altair would be located at the bottom of the Triangle Glyph. (Many small dotes would no doubt be stars.) It is joined at this point with the string-caving. At the other end of the string is what I refer to as the Lief Glyph. (Check the illustration of tracings on this site concerning the Triangle Glyph.)
(This theory of mine is not intended to take away or disprove and previous interpretations of the Bedford Barrens Petroglyphs.)
umm, I do think too much is being read into this. It is a traditional 8-pinted star that has been used by the Mi’kmaq in many forms for hundreds of years. The ties to me do not looke like markers but prayer ties. Sometimes the answers are easier than the questions
The mik’maq have traditional inhabited many areas of the coast as well as in land. I am Mik’maq and i would like to learn as much a possible of the area if it is open to a professional dig. Many people forget there, use to be a large Mik’maq communities, that had settlements along the halifax basin, the most recent one was the distruction of the last know one, by the Halifax explosion. That was never rebuilt, and area was consumed by the city development.
The Bedford Barrens Petroglyph is recognized during the ages as an “Eight Pointed Star.” Over the years it has taken on countless variations or applications, as to what it represents. The Star Petroglyph is referred to on this site “NSExplore” as the “Heaven Glyph Alignments.” This circular or round shape petroglyph gave me the idea that it may have been used as an early Mi’kmaq board-game. Due to this very fact, it was carved on a very flat-stone-surface. (At that time I was serving on the “Bedford Barrens Advisory Committee.1990-91)
In the early late 70s & 80s, I had invented a number of board-games. After experimenting with various concepts of board-games, I had concluded that the “Heavens Glyphs Alignments” flat-stone-surface may have served as a game of solitaire. (I would like to make it clear that I am not saying it did, but may have.) Yet, it could also have been used for various other games. Such as the Ancient Mi’Kmaq game of Waltes.
In the original game of Waltes a wooden-dish known as a “Waltestaqn” was used, an wooden sticks where for counting. (The same as dice are used for scoring numbers.) When the sticks are held upright in the hand, then released, scoring is accomplished by counting the sticks with upturned marked faces and down turned faces. (The same concept as when flipping a penny for heads or tails.)
The original game was known to have very complicated rules, and the game could continue indefinitely. If the “Heaven Glyph Alignments” had truly been used as a game-board, I hope that my presentation may someday lead to the discovery of what kind of game was in fact played upon this flat-stone-surface located in the Bedford Barrens.
If it ever was a solitaire this is how it game may have been played:
1. Place stones on all intersections of lines. There are 20 intersection of lines that playing pieces are to be placed. (20 stones or checkers/chessmen can be used as playing pieces.)
2. Do not place a stone on the central intersecting lines.
3. Aim of the game is to remove all the stones of the game-board by jumping vertically, horizontally and diagonally, (backwards & forward) along any connecting line.
4. Stones can jump over any stone that is adjacent to any empty numbered space. Only one stone can be jumped during each turn. (Successive jumps can be made during a players turn.)
5. Whenever a stone is jumped, that stone is removed from the game. Game ends when all stones are removed from the game-board except for one. If possible with the last remaining playing piece located on the game-boards central intersecting lines.
(This solitaire game is more suitable for children to play.)
My son and I are fascinated by the petroglyphs and would love to learn more about them and the mi’kmaq settlements in the area. Are there any links to other sites? We live nearby.
Thanks,
Liz
Hi Liz, good questions! It is very interesting for me to hear, how you and your son are fascinated about petroglyphs and possible Mi’kmaq settlements. Also along with many other curious minds thinking the same way.
When I lived in Bedford between 1985-1992, this became a going concern of mine. Yes, I did discover some very interesting and fascinating things during those years. So I will try and post on this site, in the very near future, information relating to your questions. For me it will be a pleasure. Doing so “one step at a time.” Not necessarily in chronological order for various good reasons. Just Jack
To start with as a side note: I would like to mention that the great Mi’kmaq Chief Glooscap is represented in the winter night sky, as the constellation of Orion. Each year in the Northern Hemisphere, Orion rises in mid December and stays for the whole winter.
In most parts of the world Orion is represented as “The Hunter” holding his “Sword” along with his “Two Dogs” at his feet. As with Glooscap he also held a “bow” in his hand, and also with his “Two Dogs” named “Loon” and “Kwemoo” at his feet. (Canine dogs)
Loon is represented by the constellation: Canis Minor the Little Dipper.
Kwemoo is represented by the constellation: Canis Major the Big Dipper.
This connection with Glooscap and Orion can be found in the Ancient Mi’kmaq Legends that have been past down through the ages.
They clearly mention that “Glooscap had a belt.” These would be the three bright stars in a row, that make up Orion’s belt. (The Hunter’s Belt)
Whenever Orion appears in the night sky here in Austria, it takes me back to the Bedford Barrens. While looking up at the winter night sky, seeing Glooscap (Orion) rising up over the horizon, holding his bow in his hand with his out stretched arm, along with his two dogs Loon and Kwemoo at his feet. Plainly putting it: “WONDERFUL MOMENTS.”