If you find yourself seeking out places to escape the crowds lately, then why not take a little road trip sealed safely within the comforts of your own vehicle until you reach your destination – out of doors, of course? Located deep within the folds of western North Carolina’s mountains, there’s a boulder covered in ancient petroglyphs. It’s steeped in Native American lore, whispers of the paranormal, and even UFO sightings. And most of all, it’s never crowded.
Judaculla Rock is the perfect place to escape the crowds and also see a part of history that dates back to long before modern times.
An official marker placed for directions a few miles before the marker describes the ancient carvings upon the boulder (it's much more then a rock) as originating between 500 and 700 A.D.
However, some archaeologists have used other similar carvings from locations in Georgia to date at least some of the impressions found on Judacalla to somewhere between 1000 BCE and 323 million years ago.
It may be difficult from these images to get an idea of the sheer size of Jucadulla Rock. It has a surface area of 240 square feet. The soapstone boulder includes impressions archaeologists have detailed as bowl carvings, among other things.
Much of this side of the mountain is comprised of soapstone and it's believed the area was used for the excavation of soapstone bowls in ancient times.
Now, about those UFO sightings, the Native American lore, and the paranormal activity: The Cherokee used to occupy the area and are responsible for the rock's modern name. They believed Judacalla was a giant spiritual being that used the rock as his own. It's said the Cherokee still regard the rock as a spiritual place.
In more modern times, UFO's have been reported hovering over the mountain on which Judaculla rests. We'll never know if that's true, but the rock, itself contains some claw-like impressions that could reasonably have been made by aliens — if you believe in that sort of thing.
Judaculla Rock is an overlooked ancient relic that ties modern day North Carolina to activity taking place on the site possibly millions of years ago. And best of all, it's outside and away from the crowds.
