The Black Hills are rich in primitive pictographs- that is, imagistic representations of actuality according to mankind's distant forebears. Pictographs are cave art, and the Hills are rich in caves hosting thousands of visitors each summer. Archaeologists assume that such representations could be upward of 10,000 years old, although Plains Indians signatured caves as recently as 150 years ago.
Most images are of foodstuffs such as deer and buffalo, the popular art of the day.
Other images are more mysterious, more avart garde. Some are human figures. One pictograph appears to be related to Coronado's expedition, the Spanish party seeking gold in the Hills. Another cave, Ludlow Cave, is spiritually significant to American Indians who believe wild animals have been transfigured there. Custer was perplexed by images of ships on the walls.