Best Western
Dorchester Hotel
Nanaimo

Located in the heart
of downtown Nanaimo



http://www.dorchesternanaimo.com/

Best Western Dorchester Hotel - Blog

January
24

Prehistoric Rock Carvings at Petroglyph Provincial Park in Nanaimo

posted by Dorchester Hotel on January 24, 2012 3:56:47 PM

Some time in the past the native peoples skillfully carved wolves, sea creatures and symbolic designs into the sandstone surfaces of the rock.  Using stone tools, these beautiful etchings represent an art form seen in other locations but rarely in such concentrations. The sandstone display of the original creations is along a walkway on a hill that overlooks the Nanaimo Harbour.

Prehistoric Rock Carvings

A petroglyph is a line drawing or carving on rock, especially one made by prehistoric people. These prehistoric rock carvings are the main attraction at the small park. Some 1,000 years ago the First Nations people of the area created the carvings without the aid of modern carving tools.

Locations of the Rock Art Carvings

The rock art carvings were carefully chosen where the forces of nature were the strongest such as caves and waterfalls. The locations were typically near water.  Looking through the tall trees you can see the Nanaimo harbour.

Petroglyph Park Interpretive Area

The park has an interpretive area with information panels to describe the petrographs.  The rock carvings were created by a people who had no written language to commemorate their special  events or rituals.

Create Your Own Souvenir

In the main interpretative area you can make a rubbing of the castings from the concrete replicas. By rubbing charcoal or crayon over paper or cloth you can create a reverse imprint and voila you have your own souvenir.  You will need to bring your own supplies as there is no store on site.

Petroglyph Park Sandstone Gallery

Overlooking Nanaimo Harbour on a hill is the sandstone gallery of petrographs. Amid the tall trees and brush you can view these carvings.  You will conjure up images of times past when the carvings were done a thousand years ago.

Getting to Petroglyph Provincial Park

Petroglyph Provincial Park is located at the south end of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.  It is 4 km (2.5 miles) south on Highway 1 – the Trans-Canada Highway – just watch for the exit.

Nanaimo Accommodations

There are a number of hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts to pick from including our sponsors, Best Western which is just a couple of blocks from the Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC).

The BEST WESTERN PLUS, Dorchester Nanaimo Hotel is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Nanaimo over looking picturesque Nanaimo Harbour. Our charming heritage boutique-style hotel is decorated in a style that blends old world class with modern conveniences to make your stay at this Nanaimo hotel a comfortable and memorable one!

Offering spectacular views of Nanaimo, along with Nanaimo’s inner harbour, the BEST WESTERN PLUS, Dorchester Hotel features 70 well-appointed guestrooms. Our Nanaimo hotel also features a popular onsite restaurant: Deep Blue, high-speed internet, meeting rooms, complimentary overnight parking, and more!

The BEST WESTERN PLUS, Dorchester Hotel Nanaimo, 70 Church Street, Nanaimo, BC Canada V9R 5H4 Toll Free: 1-(800)661-2449 Local : (250)754-6835 Fax: (250) 754-2638 Email: email: reservations@dorchesternanaimo.com

Enjoy all that the Nanaimo area has to offer and please tell your friends.

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.

Verify that you are human by dragging the clock icon into the box
*required fields
Check out more Best Western properties on Vancouver Island.
for your chance to discover Vancouver Island.