Soldier Ghaut Petroglyphs
Faces carved into rock in a ravine, the island's only known rock art.
Updated 3 September 2026
A set of carved faces was identified in Soldier Ghaut in the north of Montserrat in 2016, cut into rock in a ravine bed: simple round faces with eyes and mouths, the work of the Amerindian people who lived on the island before European arrival. They are the only rock carvings so far documented on Montserrat. The ghaut is a steep watercourse and the site takes local knowledge to find.
Highlights
- The carved faces - round figures cut into the rock of the ravine.
- The ghaut setting - a steep watercourse bed rather than an open site.
- The Amerindian origin - pre-contact carving on the island.
- The 2016 identification - a site only recently documented.
When to go
December to April is the dry season and the ghaut is safer. Never enter a ghaut after heavy rain. Low angled light shows the carving best.
Before you go
The site is genuinely hard to find without a guide and the ghaut is rough and slippery. Ghauts flash flood and must not be entered when rain is about. The carvings are faint and weathered.
Nearby
Blakes is nearby, and Brades is south.
What to pack for Soldier Ghaut Petroglyphs
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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