Greenleaf Township near Argyle in Sanilac County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Archaeology
Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 21, 2022
1. Archaeology Marker
Archaeologists have studied the Sanilac Petroglyphs site since the 1920s. They have recorded these carvings through drawings, photographs and plaster casts, and excavated in the area around the rock outcrop.
Stone tools and pottery found during investigations show that native people occupied the area intermittently over roughly the last 8,000 years and help date the creation of the petroglyphs to within the last 1.500 years. A prominent carving featuring a bow and arrow also suggests this time period, which followed the introduction of this technology to the region.
Artifacts are sparse at the site, leading archaeologists to think that native people did not establish a permanent village or camp at this location More likely, this was a special place visited occasionally by small groups of people for brief periods of time.
Preserving The Petroglyphs
Archaeology helps us understand the history of this site and how it has changed over time. Future research using new technologies may teach us more than we know today. This is one reason why preserving archaeological sites is so important.
These carvings in soft
this page online
During your visit, please investigate only with your eyes, respecting historic features and leaving any artifacts you may find in place. Metal detecting and artifact collecting are not allowed in Michigan State Historic Parks. Please help us preserve our important places to inspire future generations.
This site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Research has been conducted at this site by the Cranbrook Institute of Science, the Aboriginal Research Club of Detroit, the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology, the Michigan Anthropological Society, the Michigan History Division of the Department of State, the Michigan State University Museum, and the State Archaeologist of Michigan.
Top row photo caption: Projectile points lost by area hunters.
Second row photo captions:
(Left) School
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 21, 2022
2. Archaeology Marker
(Right)Archaeologists refitted rim shards of a ceramic pot broken about 1,000-1,500 years ago and recorded each piece with a code carefully written on the vessel's interior.
This was not the first time the pot was mended. Note the hole drilled long ago through the exterior of the cord-marked vessel. The cracked pot was at one time laced together, keeping it in use before it was irreparably broken.
Third row photo captions:
(Left) Plaster cast c. 1940. Cranbrook Institute of Science.
(Right) Fire-cracked rock from a hearth.
Fourth row photo caption: Michigan History Division researchers uncover the charred soils of what is probably an early fire pit, August 1974.
Bottom drawings captions:
(Left) Darrel J. Richards, Sanilac Petroglyph drawing, c. 1940, photograph by R. H. Hensleigh, courtesy of Cranbrook Art Museum.
(Right) A comprehensive map of the glyphs as interpreted by Darrel J. Richards, c. 1950. The four crosshatched spots mark stolen carvings, reportedly including a bear track.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 21, 2022
3. Archaeology Marker
Location. 43° 39.382′ N, 83° 1.268′ W. Marker is near Argyle, Michigan, in Sanilac County. It is in Greenleaf Township. It can be reached from Germania Road south of Bay City Forestville Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8251 Germania Rd, Cass City MI 48726, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Michigan’s Thumb and in one of the Lake Huron Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ezhibiigaadek Asin (here, next to this marker); Sanilac Petroglyphs Park Geology (within shouting distance of this marker); Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Ezhibiigaadek Asin
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 21, 2022
4. Archaeology Marker
Photographed by Joel Seewald, May 30, 2026
5. Archaeology Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 276 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 23, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 5. submitted on August 7, 2026, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
