Writing-on-Stone (Áísínai'pi)

Canada · Americas · ✦ UNESCO World Heritage Site

Notable

Sacred Blackfoot site — the greatest concentration of rock art on the entire North American Great Plains

Age

~3,000 yrs

Period

Late Prehistoric–Historic

Setting

Open-air

Art form

Petroglyphs

Discovered

1887

Status

Open to Visitors

⧗ See it on the timeline

A UNESCO World Heritage site in Alberta — the largest concentration of Indigenous rock art on the North American Great Plains. The Blackfoot people call it Áísínai'pi ('it is written/pictured') and consider it a place of spiritual power where humans communicated with supernatural beings. Battle scenes, warriors on horseback and vision-quest figures crowd the sandstone hoodoos.

Notable Features

◦ Largest rock art on Great Plains
◦ Sacred Blackfoot site
◦ Battle scenes and warrior figures

Depicted Subjects

HorsesBisonWarriorsShieldsGeometric PatternsTipis

Plan a Visit

AccessThis cave can be visited.

Sources & Further Reading

◈ Official site ≡ Wikipedia ✦ UNESCO listing ➤ Directions

Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.