Picture Cave Explained

Picture Cave
Location:	Warren County, Missouri
Discovery:	Pre-Columbian
Geology:	Limestone

Picture Cave is a cave in Warren County, Missouri containing a large array of Native American wall paintings, from which it takes its name. It has been described as “the most important rock art site in North America.”^[1] A total of 296 prehistoric glyphs are present on the cave walls.^[2] In 2021 the cave was sold to an undisclosed buyer for over 2 million dollars despite the objections of the Osage Nation.^[3]

Further reading

• Book: Diaz-Granados, Carol. Picture Cave: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Mississippian Cosmos. 2015. University of Texas Press. 9780292761339.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gershon. Livia. Missouri Cave Filled with Ancient Artwork Sold Against Osage Nation's Wishes. 2021-10-18. Smithsonian Magazine. en.
2. Web site: Picture Cave 1 23WN79. Michael Fuller. October 10, 2021.
3. News: A cave full of ancient Indigenous paintings sold for more than $2 million. The Osage Nation says it belongs to them. cnn.com. September 16, 2021. October 23, 2021.