THE WESTERN SHOSHONE

Rock art was just one way these ancient people 

expressed themselves. It also played an important 

role in their spiritual lives. Even today, Native 

American Indians acknowledge a belief in the 

sanctity of rock art. According to Indian tradition, 

rock art was located in places of spiritual power 

where, with the aid of images themselves, their 

shaman could communicate with the spirit world.

Thousands of years ago, inhabitants of western 

America left a message to their gods, ancestors, or 

perhaps those traveling behind them. As visitors, 

we are privileged to see these messages and must 

treat all rock art sites as special places – much 

like a museum or place of worship – to be enjoyed, 

preserved and protected for the benefi t of future 

generations.

USDA Forest Service

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Austin Ranger District

100 Midas Canyon Road

P.O. Box 130

Austin, Nevada 89310

(775) 964-2671

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, 

color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not 

all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of 

program information (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 

(voice and TDD).

To fi le a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Offi ce of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider and employer.

23.274.417.06/00

TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE

ROCK ART SITES

◆ Never deface rock art.

◆ Do not attempt to remove rock art.

◆ Never build fi res near rock art sites.

◆ Avoid climbing or leaning on rock art.

◆ Never chalk, trace or apply anything (even 

water) to rock art panels.

◆ Do not touch pictographs. The oils from your 

hands damage or change the pigments.

United States Forest Intermountain Humboldt-Toiyabe

Department of Service Region National

Agriculture Forest

Please . . . help us protect 

this site for those who 

come after you.

AUSTIN RANGER DISTRICT

TOQUIMA 

CAVE

ROCK ART SITE
TOQUIMA CAVE

Toquima Cave is not really a cave, but a prehistoric 

rock shelter formed from volcanic rock. This “cave,” 

however, provides you with a rare opportunity to 

glimpse into the lives of 

ancient peoples of western 

America. Through the 

rock art found in Toquima 

Cave, these people 

worshiped and recorded 

their history and important 

stories. Please explore 

and discover this unique 

archaeological site with 

care.

ROCK ART describes 

designs painted on or 

carved into rock surfaces. 

Pictographs are painted on 

rock surfaces. Petroglyphs

are carved or scratched 

into rock surfaces. While 

the most ancient rock 

art consists of pits and 

grooves, more recent 

styles show greater 

complexity by incorporating abstract, linear, 

geometric, human (anthropomorphic) and animal 

(zoomorphic) shapes.

Over 300 independent images have been recorded in 

Toquima Cave, with two rock art styles represented: 

the Great Basin curvilinear style (dots, circles and 

squiggles) and the rectilinear style (lines, chevrons 

and tally marks).

PAINTING IN COLOR

Four different minerals were used to make pigments 

in Toquima Cave: Gypsum (the primary ingredient 

in plaster) was used for white; Hematite and 

Goethite (both iron oxides) for red and yellow 

pigments; and Charcoal was used to produce 

black.

Other pigments were created from a variety 

of natural resources. Depending on the color 

desired, clay, chalk, bird droppings, plant 

juices, nut shells or berries, were used. These 

resources were harvested, collected, or 

acquired from far-away places through ancient 

trade networks.

Preparation of the pigments involved crushing, 

drying, or cooking the natural ingredients. 

Containers used for mixing and holding 

pigments might have been stone slabs or 

bowls, shells, large leaves, bark trays, gourd bowls, 

bone bowls, or clay pots.

Ancient peoples used a variety of tools to apply 

pigments to rock surfaces. A majority of pictographs 

in Toquima Cave are finger paintings. However, 

other applicators might have included: human or 

animal hair brushes, sticks, chewed twigs, grasses, 

split bones, feathers, fur, moss, or leather.