Writing-On-Stone Park, Alberta

The diverse, cross-country beauty of the nation is depicted on 12 provincial and territorial parks stamps to be issued for Canada Day 1993. Situated in southern Alberta just 8 kilometres north of the Montana border, this park contains North America's largest concentration of Native rock art. Carved, scratched or engraved into sandstone cliff faces at about 50 sites are thousands of figures created by native arts. Artifacts indicate that the area was inhabited for at least 3,000 years, but scientists have been unable to date the artwork. While some may be prehistoric, researchers believe that the Blackfoot tribe of recent habitation created most of the rock art. When the Blackfeet arrived during the 1700s they found unexplained carvings which they attributed to the spirits. They named the place "Aysin'eep", or "has been written". Their warriors came seeking spiritual guidance, leaving inscriptions recording their battles and deeds. Despite southern Alberta's inhospitable climate, the Milk River formed a valley offering a haven for wildlife. Today, antelope and deer survive where bison herds, grizzly bears and wolves once roamed. The Mounted Police patrolled and established posts from the 1870s to the late 1890s. Settles moved in during the latter period. To protect the petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (rock paintings), the park was created in 1957. The stamp designs convey the feeling that the artist visited these spectacular locations and was awed by their beauty.