#roche-a-cri

Rock art images enhanced using digital technology.

A Wisconsin Archaeological Society program at Roche-a-Cri State Park on August 2, 2025 provided the opportunity to explore a cell phone app, DStretch, that can enhance faint rock art. These images of several red figures on the rock art panel were captured using just a cell phone in the field. The images are barely visible in the original image, but show more clearly in the enhanced view. As these fragile images are threatened by erosion, sun fading, and other natural and man-made threats, new technology to identify and preserve the images is invaluable.

On the way to La Crosse, we stopped at Roche-A-Cri State Park, French for crevice in the rock. The area looked extremely particular, since the region is completely flat, until this giant 300ft rock layer randomly juts out through the trees. IT'S HUGE. First, we walked around the base of it a bit and saw where Native Americans had carved symbols into the rock face. Then we proceeded to climb to the top. Which included 303 stairs. Dad and I took our time walking up the never-ending flights of stairs, whilst Andrew thought the best plan of attack was to take the monstrosity running two steps at a time. Needless to say, he basically had an asthma attack as Dad and I were enjoying the view from a landing at a break point.