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Description of the:
Pecked Curvilinear Nucleated Style PCN's are in a curvilinear shape; oval circle, open-end horseshoe (vulva shaped). Nucleated Curvilinear
Pecked |
The Pecked Curvilinear Nucleated Style of petroglyph is found in the Coast ranges of California and to date approximately 84 sites have been located and documented. What is unique about this petroglyph style is it is found mostly on boulders of a serpentinite type of rock (chlorite or similar schistose material). The above photographs show PCN's carved in a boulder of this material (Kern County). It has been suggested that the forms are fertility symbols and connected to the prehistoric collection of salt. The above PCN site (boulder) is situated in the creek bed of a stream of water that contains a high content of salt. Nearby is a large "living site" surrounded by rock-art with many fertility symbols. Other thoughts lean towards the manufacture of charmstones and bowls, and "World renewal."
The PCN rock-art style was first identified in 1972 by Virginia Hotz, and was the subject of a thesis by Teresa (Miller) Saltzman in 1978. Ms. Saltzman also coined the term PCN. Carrying on the study into the PCN rock-art style phenomenon are Donna Gillette and Reed Haslam. A complete thesis manuscript written by Donna Gillette is available. If you locate what may be or looks like a PCN style petroglyph in an serpentinite type of rock formation, usually a boulder please contact Donna Gillette at rockart@ix.netcom.com or Carl Bjork
Donna Gillette is a member of the Bay Area Rock Art Research Association - San Francisco, CA