Ancient Petroglyph Site in Southwestern Minnesota: A Prehistoric Holy Spot

I found a mysterious petroglyph site in southwestern Minnesota that's definitely worth a visit.

Archaeologists believe that the Jeffers Petroglyph Historical Site was a holy spot developed around the same time as the pyramids in Egypt and Stonehenge in England. And like those sites, there are more questions here than answers.

The petroglyphs include images of bison, deer, turtles, birds and human figures. The ancient scribes probably chose this rock, which is about 300 yards long, because it faces south and is sunlit most of the day.

However, the carvings seem to disappear during midday, so it's best to view them just after sunrise or just before sunset, when deep shadows make the images more visible.

The site is located east of U.S. Highway 71 and about 15 miles north of Windom, which is 30 miles northeast of Worthington. From Highway 71, go east on County Road 10 for 3 miles, then head south on County Road 2 for 1 mile.

It's open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day and on weekends during May and September; closed from October through April. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for kids ages 6-12.

For more information, visit www.mnhs.org/places/sites/jp/ or call 1-507-628-5591.