Last week I went on a quick day trip to Afognak Island to help the Native Village of Afognak survey archaeological sites. I found a new archaeological site and got to check out these petroglyphs. If you look closely you can see the faces carved into the rock. Some of them are stacked on top of each other and have rays coming out of the eyes.
The Alutiiq probably used petroglyphs for both sacred and territorial purposes. Nothing like a good monument on the landscape to tell visiting strangers the area is taken. I believe the stacked faces indicate links to ancestors. Sort of like depicting your family tree. Another link might be to the Alutiiq supreme being. At the museum we have a painted wood box panel that appears to depict the supreme being and it also has rays from the eyes - perhaps a reference to a God that can see all in all 5 worlds of the Alutiiq Cosmos.
Patrick
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