Minnesota officially joined the United States in 1858, making our state more than 160 years old. But of course, Minnesota’s history stretches far past the 19th century. People have lived on this land for millennia, and if you look closely, you’ll find signs of the presence everywhere. One place in particular, a huge section of rock in southern Minnesota, is a fantastic place to visit and learn about Minnesota’s long history. Though this archaeological spot has been studied for decades, it is still a mystery to scientists. Read on below to learn more about Jeffers Petroglyphs, the 23-mile rock outcrop that baffles archaeologists to this day:

Jeffers Petroglyphs is a fascinating destination in Comfrey, Minnesota. It’s about 140 miles southwest of Minneapolis or 35 miles south of Redwood Falls.

When you arrive, you won’t see much at first. This part of Minnesota is mostly flat and covered with farmland and vast, grassy fields. The visitor’s center is the only nearby structure that stands out over the prairie.

Definitely pay a visit to the Visitor's Center either before or after your stroll. There's a lot to see here!

From the Visitor’s Center, a trail leads to the main attraction of this quietly beautiful place: a 23-mile outcrop of pink quartzite that stretches into two Minnesota counties. The exposed section is smaller, covering several thousand square feet.

The rock in and of itself is interesting. It’s unlike anything else in the area, a strange interruption in the otherwise vast, empty prairie.

Besides being geologically interesting, the outcrop also has immense historic value. It’s covered in more than 4,000 petroglyphs, or rock carvings, created by native peoples.

Some were made by the Dakota people, with many of the petroglyphs depicting motifs that appear in other Dakota art. Carvings of animals, people, and other symbols cover the rock.

Other petroglyphs are thought to be much older, with some that may be up to 7,000 years old. In other words, they may have been carved around 5000 BCE.

Although you might find evidence of a few other long-gone prehistoric residents as well...

Evidence of more recent visitors also covers the petroglyphs. There are deep marks from wagon wheels that once traveled over the area!

Though we may not know who exactly carved these mysterious petroglyphs in Minnesota, we can still make guesses about them. Archaeological studies of the petroglyphs showed that those who carved them had a deep understanding of math, astronomy, and medicine, well before their time.

Even if history isn't your forte, there's no denying the simple beauty that exists in this slice of the prairie.

All in all, this unusual site is an amazing place to learn about the history of Minnesota’s first people. We highly recommend a visit to anyone with an interest in history or archaeology! For more information about Jeffers Petroglyphs, including history, hours, and admission prices, visit the Minnesota Historical Society website.

While the history of this archaeological discovery is still being unraveled, our state is no stranger to such unique finds. There are actually quite a few mysterious places in Minnesota that are pretty baffling!