Pre-Colombian Jamaica: Caribbean Archeology and Ethnohistory

278 / Appendix D.
CHAPTER VII
ROCK- CARVINGS OR PETROGLYPHS
With the assistance of Mr. J. F. Brennan, Public Works Department
[The term Petroglyph is restricted by Mallery (1893, p. 31) for productions
in which “the picture, whether carved or pecked, or otherwise incised, and
whether figured only by colouration, or by colouration and incision together, is
upon a rock either in situ or sufficiently large for inference that the picture was
imposed upon where it was found.”]
Within the past year or two four examples of probable aboriginal rockcarvings,
all previously unrecognized, have been brought to public notice. They
occur at widely separated and remote spots, and, though rude, are without
doubt of similar origin. Two, those in Trelawny and St. Mary, represent only
an individual human figure, the face being the most distinct feature; others,
at Kempshot and St. John, show numerous inscriptions. The former are very
simple, representing only the face, while the latter exhibit more complicated
designs. In every case they are rather deep incisions in the soft limestone or on
stalactitic matter, and present a more or less perfect circle enclosing a face; the
lower markings are less definite. Though mostly in caves or recesses, protected
from the rain, the incisions or grooves show a very rough pitted surface, as if
from weathering or solution extending over a long period. It is not likely, however,
that the surface and edges were ever neatly made, having evidently been
executed by some implement not well adapted to the purpose. A comparison
with others known from various West Indian islands, and from Guiana, shows
there can be little doubt as to the uniformity of the whole series.
Dryland, St. Mary
The Petroglyph at Dryland, representing a human figure (Plate VI, figure 3),
occurs in the parish of St. Mary, just where it borders on the parish of St. Catherine
between Highgate and Pear Tree Grove. It is found in a recess at the angle
of a small closed gorge, about 15 feet high, in the soft, yellow limestone. The
gorge was probably at one time a river- course; a pit, evidently an old sink- hole,
occurring in it.
At present the immediate district known as the Dryland Settlement, is a rugged
ruinate woodland, about half a mile from the public road, and has a stream
behind to the north- east. In a straight line it is distant nine miles from the
northern shore of the island, and has an altitude of 1,470 feet. Well- wooded
surrounding elevations give the locality considerable picturesque beauty. Numerous
settlements are met with in the vicinity, but none of the oldest in-