This Sacred Cherokee Stone Bears 1,500 Ancient Symbols That Still Baffle Archaeologists Today

North Carolina’s Most Mysterious Rock Art

A massive soapstone boulder sits quietly in western North Carolina’s mountains, covered in over 1,500 ancient carvings.

The 240-square-foot stone contains the largest collection of petroglyphs east of the Mississippi. That’s 3.7 times more numerous than Georgia’s Track Rock Gap, the next largest site.

Let’s take a closer look.

North Carolina’s Cherokee Heritage

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ history dates back 12,000 years.

Today, they maintain sovereignty on the 56,600-acre Qualla Boundary, where their ancestors resisted the forced removal during the 1838 Trail of Tears.

The Cherokee shaped Appalachian culture through advanced agriculture, intricate basketry, and place names still used today.

The Judacula Stone Has Over 1,500 Mysterious Symbols

The petroglyphs on the Judaculla Rock represent one of the most diverse collections of prehistoric rock art in the southeastern United States.

Many look like abstract representations of animals, including birds, snakes, and possibly mythical creatures from Cherokee folklore. The Cherokee carvers used different techniques like pecking, incising, and abrading.

But experts think there may be more to decipher. Recent studies using 3D imaging technology have revealed previously undetected carvings on the rock.

The Carvings Could Be 3,000 Years Old – At Least

While some symbols date to 500–1700 CE, quarry scars suggest Indigenous peoples used this site for soapstone bowl crafting as early as 1000 BC.

No One Has Been Able to Decode the Ancient Carvings

Experts are still not sure about what the petroglyphs on the Judaculla rock mean.

Multiple theories persist, ranging from star maps to territorial markers or records of Cherokee-Catawba agreements.

Because the symbols are so diverse, some scholars also think it may have been a meeting place for different tribes, with each group contributing their markings over time.

Some of the Marks Are Said to Be a Cherokee Giant’s Handprint

Among the petroglyphs is a seven-fingered handprint said to belong to Jadaculla, the stone’s namesake.

According to Cherokee legends, Jadaculla was a slant-eyed giant who left a seven-fingered imprint while leaping across mountains to guard his hunting grounds.

The rock was supposedly his “stepping stone” between the physical and spiritual realms, where rituals occurred until the 1800s.

The Area Is an Ancient Soapstone Quarry for Large-Scale Bowl Production

The area served as a soapstone quarry 3,500 years ago.

The soapstone from this site was highly prized for its heat-resistant properties, making it ideal for cooking vessels and ceremonial objects.

Native Americans carved bowls here for trading, and archaeologists have found some of those bowls in sites hundreds of miles away.

You can still see the scars from ancient bowl-making in the rock surface.

It’s Part of a Sacred Cherokee Landscape

The site connects to Judaculla’s nearby “throne” on Balsam Mountain and other spiritual landmarks in Jackson County.

The sacred geography includes several mountain peaks, rivers, and natural features, each with its own spiritual significance in Cherokee cosmology.

Cherokee elders say power flows between the Judaculla Rock and surrounding sites, forming an energy shield that has protected their cultural heritage.

Faithful Stewardship by the Parker Family

The Parker family preserved this sacred site for nearly 100 years, including clearing vegetation and preventing erosion to preserve the carvings.

Milas Parker found the rock in the 1930s and donated the land to Jackson County in 1959.

Jerry Parker later created a 107-acre conservation easement to make sure that the Cherokees always have access to the site for cultural and spiritual practices.

Sparked America’s Archaeological Conservation Movement

Presidential protection in 1892 made the Judaculla Rock site the nation’s first archaeological reserve, decades before the National Park Service existed.

This had a huge impact over later legislation, such as the Antiquities Act of 1906, which formalized the process of protecting archaeological resources.

Part of the National Register of Historic Places

The rock and its surrounding 15-acre archaeological area were added to the National Register in 2013 for their cultural and historical significance.

Visiting the Jadaculla Rock in 2025

Address: 552 Judaculla Rock Rd, Cullowhee, NC 28723

Judaculla Rock is open daily from 8 AM to sunset.

It sits protected under a climate-controlled shelter in western North Carolina.

A new visitor center near the site has exhibits on Cherokee history and the latest archaeological findings.

Take the AR tour to see digital overlays explaining the ancient carvings, or join a Cherokee cultural interpreter for deeper insights into the site’s spiritual meaning.

Entry is free, but guided tours should be booked in advance.