Carpet Rock - Geometric Forms Petit Jean State Park - Arkansas

here is a curious rock formation on a heavily forested mountain in west-central Arkansas. This intriguing display of stone rests on the rim of a picturesque canyon which is part of the Petit Jean State Park. The formation has several large flat surfaces which contain rows of triangles, squares, and other geometric forms. In some places, the rows consist of shapes resembling shoe prints. Many of the geometric forms that are in horizontal surfaces look like intelligently arranged, partly fused floor tiles. Similar forms in vertical surfaces are reminiscent of wall decorations.

A park pamphlet states that the various shapes in the stone appear to be a man-made pattern imprinted in the surface of the formation. However, the pamphlet goes on to say that this pattern is actually a natural phenomenon known as "Carpet Rock". The formation of this kind of rock is thought to begin with the fracturing of sandstone and the filling of the resulting cracks with quartz cement. Subsequent weathering erodes the relatively soft sandstone more than the quartz. Eventually the quartz stands out from the sandstone in a carpet-like pattern.

Carpet Rock - Geometric Forms Petit Jean State Park - Arkansas

This can be an interesting and satisfying explanation to the casual observer. However, the curious may still wonder what caused the sandstone to fracture in the first place, why it broke into such unusual patterns, and how the cracks became filled with quartz. Such questions may lead some to suspect that the carpet rocks were created by purposeful human activity and subsequently altered to a degree by natural forces. If these suspicions are even confirmed, then the story of these curious rocks can be added to reports of similar stone shapes and patterns elsewhere that do appear to have been man-made.

Some of these reports mention a variety of unusual stone formation in various parts of the United States. Examples include a pavement of stone tiles excavated at a depth of 15 feet at Blue Lick Springs, Kentucky; a stone block wall found during operations in a coal mine near Heavener, Oklahoma; and a smooth, level pavement of tiles uncovered ten feet below the surface in the Plateau Valley of western Colorado. There are also reports of this kind from other parts of the world. For instance, a "road" of fused polygonal stones was found on Easter Island in the Pacific. And stone-like floors were discovered from about six to 30 feet below the surface in the Valley of Mexico.

Carpet Rock - Shoe print shapes Petit Jean State Park - Arkansas

Do these reports involve artifacts of an early and forgotten age of mankind? Are the carpet rocks of west-central Arkansas part of such an age? Perhaps in time we will know the truth.

While the stone carpet is unusual and thought-provoking, it is just one of many attractions at Petit Jean. The park is also home to a variety of plants and wildlife, several caves, a waterfall more than 90 feet high, pioneer buildings, and an interpretive center. Scenic drives and hiking trails provide convenient access to these attractions. Petit Jean also has a lodge, restaurant, shops, cabins, and campsites. Fishing and swimming are permitted at certain locations in the park. And there is a museum nearby with antique and classic autos on display.

Cover of Petit Jean State Park brochure; Copyright Arkansas State Parks

Finally, there is one other feature of Petit Jean that is worthy of special mention. This feature is related to the romantic yet wistful legend that gave the park its name. The legend tells of a young French woman who lived some 300 years ago when her nation was exploring the New World. One day she learned that her sweetheart had joined an expedition and planned to sail westward to a little- known part of America. There he would seek his fortune and then return home to marry her. The young woman did not want to be separated from her sweetheart, so she disguised herself as a cabin boy in order to join the expedition. Her ruse was successful, and she became known to everyone as "Petit Jean" or "Little John".

The ship reached the New World and headed for what is now the south-central part of the United States. It sailed up the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers and finally anchored near the foot of a tree-covered mountain. During the following months, the crew explored the mountain and the surrounding area and then began to prepare for the return voyage to France. Shortly before the departure, however, Petit Jean fell seriously ill, and her true identity was discovered. She did not recover from the sickness.

Petit Jean was buried on the mountain where the expedition had begun to explore the little-known territory. Her resting place looked down upon a peaceful valley and faced toward the faraway land of her birth. Today visitors can drive to the site of Petit Jean's grave at the east end of the park. The view is inspiring. And the setting evokes a feeling of compassion for the one who sleeps there and a sense of admiration for all of those who risked much to explore the New World so many years ago.

While the Petit Jean State Park can be reached from more than one direction, the best way for many may be via Interstate 40. At Morrilton, Exit 108 can be used to go south on State Highway 9 for nine miles to State Highway 154. The park is 12 miles west on Highway 154. For park information/campsite reservations, call Petit Jean State Park at (501)727-5441, or write to Petit Jean State Park, 1285 Petit Jean Mtn. Road, Morrilton, AR 72110 or call. For lodge cabin reservations, call Mather Lodge at 1-800-264-2462 (V/TT) or (501)727-5431, or write to Mather Lodge, 1069 Petit Jean Mtn. Road, Morrilton, AR 72110.

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For more information about the subjects discussed in this article, please refer to the following sources:

Lost Cities of North and Central America
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Rating:
One of the popular "Lost Cities" series, this book is a must-have guidebook for mysterious places in North and Central America.
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Lost Cities of Ancient Lemuria and the Pacific
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Amazon.com price: (Currently out of print - check for availability)
This book received an excellent review
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Arkansas: Off the Beaten Path
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Part of the "Off the Beaten Path" series of travel guidebooks.
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The Hidden History of the Human Race
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Amazon.com price: $16.07 (Retail: $22.95)
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Mysteries of the Mexican Pyramids
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Passion: Music for the Last Temptation of Christ
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This CD received superb reviews (5 stars) and is personally recommended by the publisher. (The background music on this page is from "In Doubt", the sixth track of this CD.)
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AAA Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri & Oklahoma Tour Book. Heathrow, Florida: AAA Publishing, 1997.

Childress, David H. Lost Cities of Ancient Lemuria & The Pacific. Stelle, IL: Adventures Unlimited Press, 1992.

Childress, David H. Lost Cities of North & Central America. Stelle, IL: Adventures Unlimited Press, 1992.

Cremo, Michael A. and Richard L. Thompson. The Hidden History of the Human Race. Badger, CA: Govardhan Hill Publishing, 1994.

Tompkins, Peter. Mysteries of the Mexican Pyramids. Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., 1976.


PAMPHLETS:
Cedar Creek Self-Guided Trail - Petit Jean State Park. Arkansas State Parks.

Petit Jean State Park. Arkansas State Parks, 1998.

Petit Jean - Arkansas' Legendary First State Park. Arkansas State Parks.

The Legend of Petit Jean. Arkansas State Parks.

Trails Map - Petit Jean State Park. Arkansas State Parks.

What To See At Petit Jean - Mountaintop Motor Tour. Arkansas State Parks.