The Rockhouse Petroglyphs, Parsippany

Parsipanny Rock House

"Site of the 3,000 year old Indian Rock and unique rock carvings representing prehistoric art.  Artifact is one of the few petroglyph markings found in New Jersey"

While in New Jersey recently, we stopped to see the Parsippany Rockhouse and see the petroglyphs.  

A petroglyph of a “ skirted “ figure, was discovered on the North side of the Rock Shelter.

A carved circle and an “ X “ that was assumed to be a representation of a fire, under a 4 legged creature, was discovered on the south side of the shelter.

The petroglyphs were first discovered in 1973, when a housing development was being built in the area.  The Rockshelter is today in a small area right beside one of the homes.  An archaeological dig was done at the site, and experts were consulted...

According to one of the men who worked on the archaeological dig,  "it was concluded that it was a Late Archaic site which predated the Lenape tribe by thousands of years . It was most probably associated with hunter / gathering people who spent seasonal time in the higher areas. "

The Rockshelter is well marked and easy to find, but the exact location of the petroglyphs is not given - and is not marked.  

1978

Although this was regular news in the 1970s, there is little mention of the final report, or how anyone knows for certain when these images were first carved.  

According to the Historical Society website:

"Edward J. Lenik, an Archeologist, was the first to discover the petroglyphs in 1973. However; the actual date of when the site was occupied by Native American Indians is not known. Archeologist and paleo-geologist have studied the site and all conclude that the site is authentic based on the patination and the carving of the petroglyphs."

Located at the end of Dale Road

GREYSTONE PARK, NJ 07950

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Lenik, E. J. (2002). Picture Rocks: American Indian Rock Art in the Northeast Woodlands. Lebanon: University Press of New England.

Historic Sites in Parsippany

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Ted M. Payne  “Site Report for Parsippany Petroglyph Site Number One” Passaic River Basin Archeological Survey, July 13, 1979

Dr. James Swauger, Assistant Director of Carnegie Institue in Pittsburg Pa. Surveyed the site and concluded the carving were “aboriginal”.

Eward F. Limmer Jr. “A Possible Interpretation of the Petroglyphs Rock Shelter Site” , Parsippany Troy Hills Historical Sites Preservation Committee.

Dr. George Theocratoff (paleo-geologist) Rutgers University. Concluded: September 14, 1973. Letter to Herbert C. Kraft, Seton Hall University concluded that the Rock House petroglyph is authentic and of Indian origin. The workmanship is crude indicating the use of stone tools, not metal, to peck the design. The patination of the site would have taken several hundred years.