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Narrative

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I Ph~to 1 II Ph~to 211 Ph:o 311 Ph~o 411 Pho~o 51 ~CaPtions

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The Gathering Stone Narrative

A long time ago, beyond the memory of any living human being,beyond the memory of the elders and grandfathers, beyond the time whenthe presence of the White Man was but a whisper on the wind, and beyondthe memory of more than two hundred and fifty winters; an inter-tribalcouncil was convened and recorded upon a basalt boulder along the banksof the Blackfoot River.

Runners were sent to into the lands west of the Rocky Mountains [1]where the Wihinast (Western Shoshoni) lived in the Camas Prairie-BoiseBasin regions [1 7].

Runners were also sent into the lands east of the Rocky Mountains[1] where the Washakeek (Eastern Shoshoni) lived between the Green andWind Rivers at the headwaters of the great Missouri River [2].

The Messengers [18] summoned [19] representatives from these twogreat nations into the lands of the Bannacks, who were living near theheadwaters of the Snake River [3].

The purpose for this gathering was to discuss hunting rights [6].The Wihinast [16] were represented by a great warrior-chief [15].The Washakeek were represented by a warrior-chief [8, 9]and four sub-chiefs [10, 11, 12, 13].The Bannacks were represented by three warrior-chiefs [4, 14].Under the protection of the Dragonfly Totem [4] of their Bannack

hosts these warrior-chiefs sat in a circle and deliberated the futures oftheir people.[S].

The Wihinast wished to hunt the Buffalo in the lands owned by theWashakeek.

The Washakeek wished to fish the waters of the mighty Snake Riverfor giant salmon in the lands owned by the Wihinast.

The Bannacks had a vested interest in this discussion because it wasthrough their lands that each tribe would have to travel to gain access tothe other's hunting grounds.

The stone does not record how long this discussion took place nordoes it record the particulars of the debate. It does, however, record thatthe Sacred Pipe [7] was smoked sealing the agreement.

It can be assumed that since there are no signs for disharmony orwar placed upon the stone that a peaceful solution to the discussions wasachieved.

The Gathering StoneData Sheet

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1) Moved from Island Park to Just-Reid Ranch on Sunday, September 23, 1995.

2) Located in the backyard of Wallace and Marlene Reid:Lat 043 Deg 15' 48" NLon 112 Deg 06' 09" W

UTM:

124790659 N410533 E

3) JHO3 --->JHO4: 256 Deg (M) 2.83 Km (1.76 Miles)This represents the direction from and distance between the original position

and the final placement of the stone as it is returned to the zone of origin.

4) Photos: [GS.OO- GS.09]taken on Saturday,September30, 1995 before cleaning.

5) Length: 110 Cm (43.31 In)Width: 077 Cm (30.31 In)Depth: 046 Cm (18.11 In)

6) Weight: 397 Kg (875 Lbs)

7) Composition: Basalt with heavy lichens damage. Some vandalism by childrenusing a sharp instrument while boulder was located at Island Park.

8) Cleaning process took place on October 1, 1995 and was done by PatrickMcShane, Matthew and KR Pancheri. There was an approximate 3% change in theintensity of the patina while we managed to remove approximately 93% of theunwanted materials which had rendered the Rock Writings nearly illegible.

9) Photos: [GS.10 - GS.25] taken on Sunday, October 1, 1995 after cleaning.GS.26 and GS.27 are Before/After composites...........................................................

Data Compiled by: Patrick McShane, Historian

1fbabo 1tpubl leanBlackfoot, Bingham County, Idaho

October 4, 1926

An Indian Invitation to a Party

The petroglyphs pictured on the rock above announce a hunting andfishing party to be held in the Snake River Basin, and a council inconnection with it, for the purpose of settling disputes regarding theterritorial rights of the tribes as to hunting and fishing. It refers to thewatershed of the Teton country and says that all the people living onboth sides of the big divide are invited to the party.

According to Professor John Rees of Salmon, Idaho, historian and interpreter ofIndian language and Indian petroglyphs engraved upon the rocks, there was at somedistant date in the past, an invitation extended to many tribes to meet in the SnakeRiver Basin for the same purposes that impelled the white men when they had thegreat peace ~eeting at Washington, D. C., and at Genoa recently and for nearly thesame purposes as brought about the assembly that formed the league of nations atVersailles.

For Peace and Efficiency.After agreeing upon the purposes of the meeting, the Red Men who extended theinvitation, went forth with hammer and flint and chipped the solid rock until themessage was spread where all might see, providing they passed over the trail that ledalong the Blackfoot River where it emerges from the rock canyon just below themouth of the Wolverine. In the accepted language of the local tribes and with theemblems they recognized, the face of the rock proclaimed the momentous eventdesigned to prevent the waste and agonies of war. It was broad in its scope,indicating first, the great watershed of the west, and that all peoples both east andwest were included in the invitation to the council that was to be contemporaneouswith a social event designed to cultivate good will and start the practice of peace andputting to greater usefulness the natural resources of their common country.

A Primitive Poster.In those days~perhaps centuries ago, "the printed word," on the face of a rock,received more attention than it does now when there is so much printed. It is safe toassume that a traveler passing it would stop and study it, and then tell it to otherswherever he went, and they in turn would tell it, so that in a short time all wouldknow about it for hundreds of miles in every direction.The rock pictured above, lay by the side of the trail on the north bank of theBlackfoot River below the mouth of the Wolverine where many rocks had split offand fallen from the cliff above. A trail lay just below the rock, so the writing couldbe seen from the trail.

Invitation Appeals to Housekeeper.Mrs. Byrd Trego discovered the rock in 1924~got it photographed and interpreted

by Professor Rees, and a copy of his interpretation designed for the SmithsonianInstitution at Washington is herein given.The rock weighs 875 pounds and has been transported to Sagehurst where it is onexhibit at the northwest comer of the yard. At a later date the accompanying pictureof the petroglyph with their interpretation on a printed sheet will be placed by itunder protection of a rain proof glass case, but until that is done, persons desiring tostudy the rock might clip this article and use it in deciphering the message.Near the rock of the petroglyphs at Sagehurst is a bomb weighing 2050 pounds. It

was shot out of erupting lava, probably by the same action that throws tiny clots oftaffy from the.boiling syrup when it is getting thick and sputters. The clot is thrownup by the force of steam beneath the surface. As it revolves in its flight it takes thespheroidal form and cools by contact with the air. If the clot is very dense~notporous, it is apt to cool so fast on the surface that it cracks off in layers, leaving theappearance of having been carved with a curved blade. This bomb is egg-shaped andhas been so affected, and shed one or more layers due to surface contraction in itsflight.

The Time of the Eruption.Professor Rees says these rocks belong to the lava flow of the Tertiary age. Thatwas before the ice age. The ice age started before the forests began to grow to makethe coal beds. The timber and verdure that made the coal beds did not start to growuntil the extremes of temperature of the ice age prepared the soil. That seems tohave started before the advent of man. This is the way it was done.

The Ice Age.Something in the solar system slipped, and the northern hemisphere went into low

temperatures. The snow piled up until the weight settled it and made ice. Moresnows and mQreice continued until Canada and our northern states were coveredwith ice thousands of feet deep. Central Europe was in the same condition, thedeepest ice being about five thousand feet thick. That took a good while. Thesomething slipped and they went into high temperatures. The ice melted and tropicalclimate followed, with dense forests and rank vegetation with abundant animal life.Eight times "that something" slipped and gave them the extremes of climate. Fourtimes was the northern hemisphere covered with a world of ice. Three times didthey have the tropical climate with an abundant growth of everything. Primitiveman made his appearance; lived~loved~died and left his imprint or his record.Perhaps it was only his skeleton imprinted in silt that turned to rock. In some placesit was his club or a hunting knife made of chipped stone. In other places it was acave with clay pots~or pictures carved on the face of the rocks.

The Order of Events.Now we point you back to the Tertiary age. The lava flowed southward to what we

call the Blackfoot River. After that came the ice~and more ice. Then the hundredsof thousands of years, probably millions of years down to the Christian era.Geologists returning recently from the Craters of the Moon report that there havebeen several lava flows there in the last two thousand years---ten of them in five

thousand years. With this brief introduction as to the relative order of events, wenow quote from Professor Rees' s report to the Smithsonian Institution.

Professor Rees's Interpretation.Plate LXVII denotes a "peace" council between the eastern and western Shoshonis,

held in the country of the Bannacks. Fig. 1 represents the "Rock Mountains" or theridge dividing the Indians into an eastern and a western portion. Fig. 2 representsthe "headwaters of two streams," the Green and Wind Rivers, the habitats of theeastern branch. They are depicted to represent the "Washakeek" conditiondesignated by the Shoshonis where the waters are shooting and dropping. Fig. 3 isthe "Snake River," the habitat of the Shoshonis represented by the sinuous line.Fig. 4 is the "dragon-fly" totem of the Bannacks representing the habitat of thattribe which is here depicted as being near the source of the Snake River. Fig. 5represents a "council in session" which is denoted by men sitting in a circle andtalking. Fig. 7 is a symbol representing a "pipe" the sign for which is made byholding out the right hand, back down, pointing forward with the index finger curledup. It was a council held by "warriors" as all of the principals or leaders are sorepresented by the hanging breech-clout. Fig. 8 is the leader of the eastern band.Fig. 9 is his "head dress" designating him a chief. Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are"sub-chiefs" that are attending him at this function. The markers about the chiefdenote the "warriors" that are accompanying him upon this expedition to act as hisbody guard, there being about ten members of them. Fig. 14 represents threeBannack warriors that sit in this council, the "three lines" being markers or countersof the dragon-fly totem. Fig. 15 represents a Shoshoni warrior, shown by the"trailing queue." The circle above his head, Fig. 16 is the symbol for "all."Fig. 17 represents the "country" from which these Shoshonis came, showing it to bea large "basin," west of the Snake River, alluding to the Camas Prairie-Boise Basinregions which were ancient stamping grounds of the western or Wihinast Shoshonis.Fig. 18 represents a "herald" or "runner" who is announcing this event to the tribes.The sign for "messenger" is made with the right hand swung forward from themouth, meaning handing out words. The invitation to this council was given by theIndians on the western side of the mountains and is represented by Fig. 19, which isa symbol for "come," the sign for which is made by a motion of the index finger ofthe right hand carried from arm's length in a curve to near the face, meaning comehere. Two of these curves were made in this figure, one to the east and one to thewest, inviting all to come. Fig. 6 represents what this council is all about. Thecircular part of this figure represents the "place" or country of the Shoshonis. Thetwo "strokes" leading from this circle mean hunt, the sign for which is made with theindex and middle fingers of the right hand, extended and separated brought near theeyes, pointing"forward in a position that one can look along the fingers; by wristaction the fingers are turned from side to side, meaning looking or searching forsomething. The entire symbol means that this council was held for the purpose ofadjusting the hunting rights of this family over the country claimed by its varioustribes, especially the right of the Shoshonis west of the mountains to go east and huntthe buffalo on the headwaters of the Missouri. However, the salmon fishing rightsalong the Snake River for the Indians east of the mountains would be almost asequally important a matter in such a council. The symbol includes all of these as itrefers to "hunting rights."

After an Absence of 71 Years the 'Gathering Stone' Returns Home

by: Patrick McShane, HistorianDated: September 16, 1995

BLACKFOOT- 71 years after it had been removed from along the banks ofthe Blackfoot River an 875 pound basalt slab covered with Shoshoni rockwriting, has come home.In 1924 Mrs. Susie Trego, whose husband Byrd Trego was the editor and

publisher of the Idaho Republican, 'discovered' the stone while visiting withfriends who farmed along the Blackfoot River. Susie had a keen interest inIndian culture and history. She contacted Professor John E. Rees of Salmon,Idaho. Prof. Rees was a well known authority on various aspects of NativeAmerican culture, especially the signs and symbols which they had peckedand abraded into stone. Prof. Rees arrived, camera in hand, photographed theboulder and then later interpreted the meaning of the petroglyphs for her.Susie became taken with the stone and asked if she might have it.Permission being granted she had the boulder removed and transported to'Sagehurst', the name of their home in Blackfoot, where it remained ondisplay for 33 years.In the October 4, 1926 issue of the Idaho Republican the Gathering Stone

was featured in an article authored by Prof.Rees and the nomen;"AnIndianInvitation to a Party," was used to describe the petroglyph panel.The Gathering Stone was next presented to a statewide readership in the

Twelfth BiennialReport of the Board of Trustees of the State HistoricalSociety of Idaho, 1930, in an article titled; Indian Rock Writing in Idaho,authored by RichardP. Erwin. In addition to showing the photograph taken byProf. Rees his lengthy interpretation of the stone, "Invitation to Party" alsoappeared.IN 1957 the"Gathering Stone fell under the auctioneers' gavel during the

estate sale of Byrd Trego who died on April 2, 1957. It was purchased byOrien S. (Chris) Christensen who, being a lover of rocks, moved it to his homeat Island Park, Idaho. There it remained until recently.The significance of the Gathering Stone, as interpreted by Prof. Rees, lies in

the fact that it announced a "peace council"between the Eastern and WesternShoshoni held in the country of the Bannacks. "The entire symbol means thatthis council was held for the purpose of adjusting the hunting rights of thisfamily over the country claimed by its various tribes, especially the right ofthe Shoshonis west of the Rocky Mountains to go east and hunt the buffalo onthe headwaters of the Missouri River. However, the salmon fishing rightsalong the Snake River for the Indians east of the mountains would be almostas equally important a matter in such a council. The symbol includes all ofthese as it refers to 'hunting rights.'"Originally positioned along a well-used Native American trail beside the

Blackfoot River where it could be seen by all who passed by, this monument

to time and human compromise, appeared as a Treaty in Stone.For a number of years Wallace and Marlene Reid, patriarchs of the Just-Reid

Homestead along the Blackfoot River, have been actively involved in effortsto return the Gathering Stone to its rightful place. It is a well publicizedfact that several petroglyphic panel sites are located near the old homesteadand the Gathering Stone had been removed from one of these sites. Under thestudy and stewardship of MarleneReid these rock writings have remainedpreservedand protected.Once Marlenehad learned the whereabouts of the Gathering Stone, she

contacted Andrew(Andy) Christensen,son of the late "Chris"Christensen,and discussed the return of the artifact. It wasn't until after the death ofAndy Christe~sen on March 17, 1995, that final arrangements were made withhis wife Shirley and the Gathering Stone began its journey home.The Gathering Stone willcome home to the Reid Ranch, not far from whereit began its journey 71 years ago. MarleneReid plans to make it available forviewing to various visiting groups, especially school children and scouts, whowish to learn more about the early history of our area.The Gathering Stone shall nowbecome the center of a 'gathering place'...aplace to teach future generations. Thanks to the efforts of MarleneReid, themessage of the Gathering Stone, silenced for so many years, will once againinstruct and inform those who 'pass by' as the original authors had intended.

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THE MORNiNG NEWS, Blackfoot, Idaho, Saturday, Oct. 7, 1995- 3A

Indian petroglyphs return to Reid ranchBY LOIS BATES Rees, Salmon, to inspect the easternbranchand the SnakeRiverNews correspondent petroglyphs on the rock. Patrick with the habitat of western

McShane,Wapello,a historianon Shoshoni.It had been 71 years since "the the art of rock writingsaid. "Rees There are Bannock and

rock" left its home. And ifs no was a well-known authority on Shoshoni warriors and a symbolordinary rock, it's an 875-pound various aspects of petroglyphs." inviting everyone to come andbasalt stonecoveredwith Shoshoni Professor Rees photographed the discuss hunting and fIShingrightsrockwriting. rockand interpretedthe meaningof so there can be peace. McShane

The big rock had left its home therockas an invitationto a party. referredto the rock as a "treaty inalong the BlackfootRiver in 1924 The Indian signs were depicted stone."whenSusieBoiceTregodiscovered as a peace council between the This is not the fust time thisit while visiting a friend, Agnes easternand westernShoshonito be particularrock has beenfeaturedinJustReid It wasin a positionalong held in the BannockCountry.There the paper. Blackfoot's Idahoa well-used Indian trail where all are mountainsreferringto division Republican,told the story, Oct 4,

, whopassedby couldsee. andtwo streamsshowingthe Green 1926. It was an article written bySusie invited ProfessorJohn E. River and Wind River of the Professor Rees. It also was

L- presented to a statewide readershipin the 12th BiennialReportof theboardof trusteesof the IdahoStateHistorical Society during 1930 inthe article entitled, "Indian RockWriting In Idaho," by Richard P.Erwin.

Susie had the rock transported toher beloved Sagehurst at 20 CourtStreet, where it remained for 33years. Following the death of bothSusie and her husband Byrd, therock, dubbed, "the gathering stone"was sold at an estate auction to O.S.(Chris) Christensen. He took it to

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his cabin in Island Park where itremained until this fall, whenWallace and Marlene Reid broughtit home Sept 24.

Coming home to the Reid ranchafter seven decades, the "gatheringstone" will live up to its name asMarlene plans to make it availableto visiting groups, especially schoolchildren and scouts.

McShane has researched andstudied petroglyphs and gatheredmaterials for the past five years. Hecleaned lichens from the rock very~fully as photographs proved ithad deteriorated over the years.

"The Gathering Stone shall nowbecome the center of a 'gatheringplace' to teach future generations,"stated McShane. "Thanks to theefforts of Marlene Reid, themessage of the gathering stone,silenced for so many years, willonce again instruct and informthose who pass by as the originalauthors had intended."

Marlene is selling T-shirts andstationary with the petroglyphsymbols to help compensate theexpense of restoring "the rock."