Images of the human hand and foot are common in rock art of many cultures. The Mi'kmaw petroglyphs of hands and feet show a variety of forms. Hands are shown as plain outlines and with detailed decorations. The image at right shows a detailed hand with skin creases at the finger joints. A two-masted sailing vessel is shown on the palm.

Hand, Ship on palm

Hand, spirals on fingertips

The image at left shows a detailed hand with skin creases on the palm and spirals on the fingertips. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have used this image to illustrate lectures on fingerprints. They felt it might perhaps be the oldest known depiction of fingerprints in Canada.

Human feet are also represented in Mi'kmaw petroglyphs, both as outlines, perhaps with the artist tracing around his own foot, and as highly detailed images. The tracing at right shows an unusual treatment: what appears to be a foot within a moccasin, rather than bare.

Foot, possibly in moccasin

 

Hand, rings(?) on fingers	Hand, peaked cap and beaver hat on palm
Foot, symbols on sole	Foot	Foot	Foot, pattern on sole