Writing Rock / Native American Legends

One of the legends tells the following: Late at night, a water spirit would emerge from the Sheyenne River and write messages on a rock for the Dakota tribes. If a girl caught a glimpse of a spirit she would have many admirers from the most desirable of the tribe. If it were a man, he would become an expert hunter and warrior or a leader.

The next night, spirits would erase the old message and write another. After white settlers arrived, the spirits did not return.

Captions: In 1890, Theodore H. Lewis of the Northwest Archaeological Survey examined the large light- colored granite boulder known as Writing Rock The notes and drawing to the right are from an article Lewis wrote in 1891. Present-day archaeologists support the position that the markings on the stone are the result of nature and not man. 1. Apparently the horns of some animal. 2. A nondescript. There is a similar figure on the quartzite ledge near Little Cottonwood Falls, in Cottonwood County Minnesota 3. A crescent. This figure is often o found along the Mississippi River in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. 4. A nondescript animal. 5. A peculiar-shaped cross. There is one similar in form on the face of a cliff a few miles above Stillwater, Minnesota 6. "Pins, "so-called. There are two of the same shape on the quartzite ledge, among other figures, near the "Three Maidens,"at Pipestone, Minnesota. 7. Three pairs of cups, one set being joined by a straight groove and the other two by curved grooves 8. There are four long grooves with odd- shaped ends. . This historical marker was erected by Federal Highway Administration Garrison Diversion Recreation Grant, and Valley City Food and Beverage Tax Fund.. It is Near Fort Ransom in Ransom County North Dakota