Picture Cave

Picture Cave
LocationWarren County, Missouri
DiscoveryPre-Columbian
GeologyLimestone

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] The cave features drawings of people, animals, birds and mythical creatures, with intricately detailed clothing, headressess, feather, and weapons, according to Dr. Carol Diaz-Granádos of Washington University.[3][4] The site was resided in and used for rituals and burials by the ancestors of the Osage, Omaha, Ponca, Quapaw, and Kaw beginning at least by 1000 CE, as part of the broader Mississippian cultural complex.[5][6]

In 2021 the cave was sold to an undisclosed buyer for over $2.2 million dollars despite the objections of the Osage Nation as supported by The Conservation Fund, which had collected $2 million for the sale.[7][8] Public records list the buyer as Morning Star and His Friends, LLC of Nashville, Tennessee as represented by National Registered Agents of Knoxville, Tennessee.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ Gershon, Livia (September 15, 2021). "Missouri Cave Filled with Ancient Artwork Sold Against Osage Nation's Wishes". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  2. ^ "Picture Cave 1 23WN79". Michael Fuller. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  3. ^ Press, Associated (2021-09-15). "'Heartbroken' Osage Nation leaders decry sale of sacred Missouri cave with ancient artwork". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  4. ^ "Picture Cave". University of Texas Press. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  5. ^ Keen, Taylor (2024). Rediscovering Turtle Island. Rochester, Vermont: Bear & Company. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-59143-520-4.
  6. ^ Press, Associated (2021-09-15). "'Heartbroken' Osage Nation leaders decry sale of sacred Missouri cave with ancient artwork". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  7. ^ "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. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Mattei, Shanti Escalante-De (2021-09-15). "Sacred Native American Cave Sold Off to Highest Bidder". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  9. ^ "Go deep in the caves—and history—of Warren County - Warren Co. Historical Society". 2022-09-13. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  10. ^ "MORNING STAR AND HIS FRIENDS, LLC". Bizapedia. 2025-11-15. Retrieved 2025-11-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Further reading

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