The Pictograph Wallby Carol J. Ellick, M.A., RPA, SRI Foundation
cjellick@srifoundation.org
Age: all children; younger than 5 with their parent’s assistanceObjectives: Provides an introduction to how pictographs areproduced and their significance as a means of communicating.
Also provides information on the preservation of rock art sites.
Materials: 16–24 ft. of brown butcher paper (package/mailing paper) 3 ft. wide; 8 large (grocerybag-sized) brown bags to make “rocks”; green construction paper torn into ½ inch strips;
scissors; clear packing tape, duct tape, and masking tape; pencils or pens; orange-red, white, andblack liquid tempera paint; 3 spray bottles; bucket; water; paper towels; 2 drop-cloths or extra
butcher paper; newspapers; paper lunch bags; brown construction paper (construction paper isused if take-home bags are not provided). Take-home bags may be filled with goodies andpreservation information.
Preparation: Cut butcher paper into three segments—the longest, bottom section—measuring
approximately 6–9 feet long depending on how long you want the wall to be. Lay sections onthe floor. Tape the entire length of the back of the butcher paper edge-to-edge so that the bottom
layer slightly overlaps the next above it. To make the wall look more realistic, roughly cut thebutcher paper to form a slope on one side. Attach the paper wall to the wall. Experiment withthe tape to make sure that it will hold the paper wall up without hurting the wall you areattaching it to. Sometimes package tape will work and sometimes duct tape will. Try to have avariety with you in case one type of tape does not work.
Tear strips of green construction paper and tape them together at the base to form clumps ofgrass. Put the drop cloth or an additional length of paper on the floor beneath the paper wall.
Add boulders along the base by crumbling several paper lunch bags and attach them with tape tothe rock wall. Add occasional clumps of grass in between boulders and strata.
Prepare the tempera paint by mixing a 1:1 ratio with tap water in a spray bottle. This will bedone for all three colors (black=charcoal; red=ocher; white=clay). Experiment with themixture prior to the event. Some paints require a weaker solution than others. Keep the nozzle
moist so it does not plug-up.
Construction
paper “grass”

Overlapedge sothat thelower
segment
coversthe next
above it.

3 ft.
6-9ft.
Paper bag “rocks”
Paper bag “rocks”

Place a bucket of water and a roll of paper towels on the drop cloth, to the side of the paper wall.
The tempera paint is water soluble and will rinse off if visitors rub their hands in the bucket likethey were washing their hands.
Set up the table for visitors to make their handprints on bags or construction paper. Begin byprotecting the floor with butcher paper or a drop cloth. This will protect against over-spray.
Cover the table with newspaper to protect it. Lay out finished bags or construction paper as
examples. The bag may need to dry before the visitor takes it. The visitor may wish to print hisor her name on the bag.
Number of volunteers: 1 volunteer to 1 child
Procedure: Visitors to the station will participate in the creation of the pictograph wall byleaving their “signature” (hand outline) on the rock wall. The participant does this by firstplacing his/ her hand palm down on the rock wall. A volunteer will then use the spray bottle tospray the tempera paint mix on the participant’s hand. Only two or three sprays are necessary toform the image. When the participant removes his/ her hand an outline should be left on the rockwall.
Next, the participants can create a pictograph to take home byrepeating the procedure with the help of the volunteer. (The bag
can be pre-filled with relevant propaganda such as maps of localarchaeological and historic sites, bookmarks, balloons, coloring
books, etc. Or, it may be used through the event to carry thematerials they pick up and make.) If you are not providing a takehome bag, use the brown construction paper for take-home
handprints.
The paint may take a bit of time to dry. If this is the case, provide
an area for visitors to leave their product. People may want towrite their name on their creation so that it will be easily
identified when they return.
Provide a bucket of water at the station for the participants towash their hands.
What they take away: Each person will take home a pictograph of their hand.
Preservation method: Demonstrates what pictographs were, how they were made, and how
they where used as a means of communication. Presents information on protecting pictographand petroglyph sites.

Pictographs and Petroglyphs

Pictographs and Petroglyphs
Images like these were created by Indigenous peoples around the world. Images painted thatwere painted onto a rock surface are called pictographs. Images that were carved or pecked intoa rock surface are called petroglyphs. The handprints in this picture were made on the rock by
the ancestors of the modern-day Aboriginal people who live in the Northern Territory ofAustralia.
Protecting Petroglyphs and Pictographs
Natural oils from our skin can stain or wear away the designs. Making rubbings or tracings canalso damage rock art. Never add images to rocks or cliffs. Doing so would disturb the area.
Names, dates, or images added today are “graffiti”.
Scientists who record rock art images take photos or make scaled drawings using a grid andgraph paper without ever touching the image.
For more information on the “Dos” and “Don’ts” of rock art sites visit the American Rock Art
Research Association Webpage: http://www.arara.org.