Carved Rock

The third landmark in a series of nine seen on June 23, 1993. Looking back, it seems ironic that on this very day in 1993, John Wayne Bobbitt’s wife was doing some carving of her own. At any rate, on this trip, we’ll learn the difference between petroglyphs and pictographs….one is carved, the other, painted.

Carved Rock has been poorly treated, unmaintained, and unrecognized. And, since the 1100 state landmarks largely ignore Native American contributions, this site ought to be preserved better than it is. Add to this the indignity that Carved Rock’s plaque has gone missing.

Them Rock Tainters:               © Radio Flier Music

How bout them rock tainters ain’t they sappy

Defacing Carved Rock seems to make them happy

Doin phony little petroglyphs of eagles and thrushes

Lurkin round the rock with chisels and brushes

Them hugger mugger rock tainters sneekin on they buns

Taintin the boulders of Luiseno Indi-uns

Wanna be a rock tainter, I’ll explain it

Get a stone at home and buck up n’ taint it

If nothing else, the Luiseno people here were clean…with daily bathing nearby at the source that for the last 150 years has been known as Glen Ivy.Hot Springs.

If  there was a plaque at the site it would read: NO. 187 CARVED ROCK - The petroglyphs were carved by the Luiseño Indians, their meaning is said to be: 'A chief died here. These are his plumes, his portrait, his sign, and the animals sacred to him.' The Luiseño Indians who lived in Temescal Valley belonged to the Shoshoean linguistic group. The rock has been damaged by vandals.
Location: In canyon, 0.4 mi N of I-15 (P.M. 32.5), 8 mi S of Corona. Google maps 33.774225,-117.47509