Meanings
plural petroglyphs
- archaeologyA rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times.
The petroglyphs of Central Asia form a long sequence from the Neolithic onwards.
1998, Henri-Paul Francfort, “17: Central Asian petroglyphs: between Indo-Iranian and shamanistic interpretations”, in Paul S. C. Taçon, editor, The Archaeology of Rock-Art, page 3022 more examples
Ninety-six petroglyph sites were reported in the original study (DiazGranados 1993). The majority of the petroglyphs are worn.
2000, Carol Diaz-Granados, James R. Duncan, The Petroglyphs and Pictographs of Missouri, page 102The islands of Tonga are not known for petroglyphs; however, one of the frontal stones of a langi called Mala'e Lahi on 'Uiha Island has one petroglyph of a human foot.
2001, Georgia Lee, “18: Oceania”, in David S. Whitley, editor, Handbook of Rock Art Research, page 578
Origin
- Ancient Greekπέτρα“rock”
- Frenchpétroglyphe
- Englishpetroglyph
From French pétroglyphe, from Ancient Greek πέτρα (pétra, “rock”) + γλυφή (gluphḗ, “carved work”). By surface analysis, petro- + glyph.
More words from French, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan petròglif
- petròglifa rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Chinese Mandarin 岩刻
- 岩刻 (yánkè)a rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Danish helleristning
- helleristninga rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Dutch petroglief
- petrogliefa rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Estonian kaljujoonis
- kaljujoonisa rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Finnish kalliopiirros
- kalliopiirrosa rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
French pétroglyphe
- pétroglyphea rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
German Petroglyphe
- Petroglyphea rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Greek πετρογλυφικό
- πετρογλυφικό (petroglyfikó)a rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Hawaiian kiʻi pōhaku
- kiʻi pōhakua rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Hungarian sziklarajz
- sziklarajza rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Indonesian petroglif
- petroglifa rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Italian incisione rupestre
- incisione rupestrea rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Japanese ペトログリフ
- ペトログリフa rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Norwegian Bokmål helleristning
- helleristninga rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Persian سنگنگاره
- سنگنگارهa rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Portuguese petróglifo
- petróglifoa rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Romanian petroglifă
- petroglifăa rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Russian петроглиф
- петроглиф (petroglif)a rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Spanish petroglifo
- petroglifoa rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Swedish hällristning
- hällristninga rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Turkish petroglif
- petroglifa rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Ukrainian петрогліф
- петрогліф (petrohlif)a rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times
Cite this entry
petroglyph. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petroglyph
“petroglyph.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petroglyph. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “petroglyph,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petroglyph.
Source: petroglyph on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.