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The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., May 8, 1958, page 10
Includes photograph titled:
Petroglyph specimen shown here is typical of the many "picture writing" specimens photographed by Oregon Archaeological Society field party along the Columbia River above Cliffs Sunday. This view shows the goat design in three figures. Others are of fish, sun gods, and man with a bow and arrow. - Sentinel Photo.

PETROGLYPHS OF ANCIENT TIMES VIEWED BY 150 EXCURSIONSTS

Interest in the remains of a civilization which flourished in ancient history drew an estimated 150 excursionists who crowded aboard SP&S train No. 5 on its eastbound trip Sunday morning. Their destination it was milepost 123, about three miles east of Cliffs, where they embarked for an afternoon of a photographing and inspecting the petroglyphs, or picture writing, on rocks on the Ray Ferguson ranch.
The tour was organized as a field trip of the Oregon Archaeological Society and was under the leadership of a committee consisting of the club's vice-president, Frank Buehler, and Walter Schuck, Portland, and Frank Wilke, Bingen.
Wilke, whose first inspection of the area was about 40 years ago, scouted the expedition, and secured his permission from Ferguson for the party. Since the area is difficult to reach by automobile, the stock was arranged with SP&S, with Train 6 scheduled to stop about 5 p.m. to pick up the party for its return trip.

Portland Starting Point

Close to 100 people left Portland with the morning train, while others joined at many stations en route. Approximately a dozen went aboard at Bingen, about 15 at Wishram and 20 at Maryhill.
After debarking at their destination about noon, party members ate picnic lunches before setting out for their explorations. Some went immediately to the river bank in search of arrow and spear points, or similar stone-age relics, but the main body followed the lead of Buehler, Wilke and Schuck to the base of rock cliffs, where a score or more of good examples of the picture art were pointed out.
Many of the viewers carried one or more cameras and recorded on film what they saw. One lady copied the designs with pencil on a sketch pad. Most of them later found plenty of time for searching the flat along the river for relics.
The picture writings are of two types, the earlier, petroglyph type, "pecked" by stone-age implements into the surface of the rock, and the later pictograph type of pigments painted on the rock surface. Many of the latter were gone over the earlier petroglyph design, the experts say.
The location was used as a site of habitation from very ancient times up through various ages to fairly modern times, and was contemporary to Wakemap and similar village sites.
Few artifacts of value were uncovered, though Wilke reported a number of rock fishing sinkers, for use with throw nets, were found, as were several arrow and spear points, ranging from the period of earliest man to about a century ago. Trade beads, of the "modern" vintage, a shaft smoother, a "sweathouse" rock and various flesher and scraper stones were also found.

Wary of Snakes

The party had been warned on its arrival to be on the look-out for snakes, known to be present in the area. Though the majority saw no sign of the reptiles, on reassembling for the return trip three dead rattlers were brought in and it was it reported a fourth had been seen.
Party members entraining at Bingen included Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bangert, Dr. and Mrs. Moon, Frank Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Heaman.
Frank Wilke, with a group of four senior scout girls and their leader, Mrs. Stella Ramage, met the train at Maryhill, making several stops on their return from White Salmon to view alpine flowers and points of interest. Jay Harris, OAS president from Vancouver, and W.E. Bates, secretary of the organization, Portland, with their families, drove to Maryhill also.
Others taking the train at Maryhill included Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Whitmore, Roosevelt; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Franklin, Sunnyside; Mr. and Mrs. Anton Klucas, Richard, sons Brice and Craig and Arlas; Mrs. A. Ostling, Seattle and Mrs. William Parker, Coupeville.
Mrs. Ostling, a U. of W. anthropology student, and her mother, Mrs. Parker, drove from Vancouver, where they had searched for Indian relics, to join the expedition. Mrs. Parker is the widow of a former Alderdale schoolteacher.
Mr. and Mrs. Cary Ramsey of Goldendale that the train at Wishram.

Society Membership Broad

Membership in the OAS is by no means confined to the state of Oregon, and many Washington members were present. One such was Don Donaldson of Seattle; another was Frank Bailey of Olympia, who also is a member of the Washington Agate and Mineral Society. Bailey, a state welfare department employee, recorded a complete picture story of the trip, in both black and white and color film.
The committee expressed its thanks to Ferguson for his permission for the junket, and to SP&S for its cooperation.
The OAS holds an annual picnic at the Maryhill Museum, and it was said that interested persons would be welcome; the date of this year's picnic will be announced at a later time.