Bear Paw Petroglyphs and the Prehistoric Martis Complex

People of the Martis Complex occupied lands adjoining the north-central Sierra Nevada from approximately 2000 B.C. to 500 A.D. They left their rock art on 100 or more rock outcroppings. The appearance of glyphs clearly resembling a bear paw or bear track at several dozen petroglyph sites suggested that this symbol in the north-central Sierra Nevada might be unique to the Martis people. A review of the occurrence of bear paw glyphs at ninety nine recorded sites in Nevada and 265 petroglyph sites in California showed that none of these glyphs appeared at the 293 sites more than 90 km from Martis territory. By contrast, 133 bear paw glyphs were recorded at twenty-nine sites in or near Martis territory. The frequent use of the bear paw symbol in the Martis rock art suggests that it may be a ritualistic symbol related to a bear cult, bear clan, or a family or clan totem in the culture of these prehistoric people.