This large soapstone boulder is located in Jackson County, NC. Interesting petroglyphs cover most of its surface. To this day the carvings have not been deciphered.
Some believe the Cherokee Indians camped near the rock when they quarried soapstone. Soapstone was used to make pipes, bowls, beads and other useful artifacts.
In fact, the Cherokee held ceremonies there up through the 19th century.
Some believe the rock is some sort of map of the area. Others think it is a battlefield depiction of the Great War between the Cherokee and Creek Indian Nations in 1755. Or possibly it’s Peace Treaty. But they are probably thousands of years old not hundreds.
Archeologists who study soapstone carvings believe the Judaculla Rock carvings were done some time between 3000 and 1000 BC.
It is interesting that no Cherokee Indian has ever been able to tell what the petroglyphs mean or report when they were carved on the rock face.
It is possible to read many different things into the figures on the stone. Who knows, you may be the one to discover its hidden meaning.
In the late 1800’s a historian who collected Indian stories recorded one about a mythical creature named Judaculla (meaning “Great Slant-eyed Giant”).
This mythical creature lived on top of the mountain that feeds the Tuckaseegee River. He was an incredibly powerful Giant Hunter who also controlled nature’s forces, wind, rain, thunder, etc. Judaculla’s feet are supposed to have made the rock’s carvings when he jumped from the top of the mountain to the creek below. An incredible act in itself since this would be a leap of several thousand feet. The carving on the lower left side of the rock is supposed to be a picture of his foot with 7 toes.
Whatever the source or reason, it is generally accepted the carvings are not ancient graffiti. It seems to be an important message but, unfortunately, we no longer know what it is.
Today there is a small park around the sight and it is totally free to visit Judaculla Rock. The park is open year round.
An interesting vocabulary side bar:
Petroglyph: a design chiseled or chipped out of a rock surface.
Pictograph: a design painted on a rock surface.
Rock art: a general term for the pecking, incising, or painting of designs onto rock surfaces.
Rock art panel: a group of rock art figures.
Soapstone: a type of stone which is soft and easily carved; also called steatite.
Symbol: a thing or design that represents something else.
This drawing is courtesy of the University of North Carolina Rock Art Lessons
To visit Judaculla Rock:
Coming from the North and the Great Smoky Mt Expressway Hwy 74/23 take Sylva exit # 85, Go to the second light and Turn LEFT on to Hwy 107 going south, drive approximately 8 miles to the BP Station at Hwy 107 & Caney Fork Road.
On the way, you will go through the little community of Sylva. Then through Cullowhee and Western Carolina University (WCU). Just a few miles past WCU you will see the Judaculla Rock road sign shown above. It is at the intersection of Hwy 107 and Caney Fork Road. Turn east on to Caney Fork Rd and go about 2.5 miles to a gravel road on your left.
Follow the gravel road about ½ mile to Judaculla Rock on your right.
