Inscriptions in Spy Rock Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(small)
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This interesting historical location is known as "The" Spy Rock (CA-MEN-1912) located approx 2.9 miles East of Hwy 101 up Spy Rock Road. To get there turn at N 39° 47.867 W 123° 32.533 and continue till you find the large solitary rock next to the road. The cache is a Med/Large water tight container, stashed about 50 -75ft from the major point of interest here. Although the cache is not Wheel Chair accesible, the Point of interest is and what a interesting point it is!!!
This Large Metamorphic Rock known as Chlorite Schist you will see here is litterally peppered with ancient Petroglyphs!!! There are over 100 individual elements that have been etched into this rock, studies have been done and no conclusions have been made as to who or why these petroglyphs are here, although this particualar style has been identified as the "North Coast Petroglyph Style" which has been present in Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity and Lake counties. Though the rock is covered with pecked and carved figures and deeply incised lines, it has been noted that there is consideralble time depth involved and several different styles are present.
The four types of glyphs youwill see here are:
1- Symetrical arrangements of Circles (Targets), the most characteristic motif at this site consisting of 2-6 cirlces , the center is often pecked out into a capule depression
2- Numerous Capules averaging 1" in diameter. These pecked out pits are not associated with the others except center of the "Targets", these centers are are larger and more polished than the isolated ones, indicating that they may be of a different time period or style.
3- Figures, There are about 6 examples of which examiners have indicated as an animal tracks or Paws and others which may be concieved as "rain symbols" or "sunbursts" or abstract representations of another mammalian paw.
4- Finally there are numerous incised lines, which occur as a crosshatch with horizontal and verticle lines. A few wavy lines are present, but are a part of other inscriptions such as the targets. The Largest inscription on this rock is a figure composed of a combination of deeply incised straight lines arranges in a pattern resembling a Bird Track.
All of these line features seem to have been manufactured with a sharp blade such as made from Chert, while the other forms seem to have been pecked and polished. A light scatter of Chert was also found mostly around the North face of the rock...this Chert probably represents the debris of tools left behind from manufacturing of the glyphs.
So come check it out, please be respectfull the area and to the rock, there is also a shrine just NW of the Spy Rock! So please do leave something behind, just do not take anything from the shrine. Have fun and as always...CACHE HARD and CACHE ON!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Sbex va gur Ybt