All 10 rock carvings in Red Dead Redemption 2 with landmarks in Ambarino, West Elizabeth and New Hanover. How to start "Geology for Beginners", what rewards Francis Sinclair gives and how not to miss the Old Brass Compass in the final cabin.
RDR2 rock carvings at a glance
| Number of carvings | 10 |
|---|---|
| Who takes them | Francis Sinclair, stranger mission line "Geology for Beginners" |
| From which chapter | Chapter 2, also available in the epilogue |
| Where it starts | A cabin northwest of Strawberry, Big Valley (West Elizabeth) |
| Where the carvings are | Ambarino — 3, West Elizabeth — 2, New Hanover — 5 |
| Rewards | $10 and Kentucky Bourbon (1), Rock Statue (5), invitation (10), Old Brass Compass |
| Needed for 100% | Yes: you have to finish the whole quest |
Rock carvings are ancient images cut into rocks in the mountains and above rivers. You do not take them with you: your character only sketches the carving in the journal and then sends it by mail. The game’s other collections are on the RDR2 collectibles page.
How to start "Geology for Beginners"
Francis Sinclair waits by a cabin northwest of Strawberry, in Big Valley (West Elizabeth). On the map the cabin is north of the "S" in the Strawberry label. You can start the quest in Chapter 2 or later, including the epilogue.
In the conversation Francis shows you a book with sample carvings and gives you his calling card — that is the address you write to. He does not give you a marked map, and the carvings do not appear on the map after the conversation. You will have to search by the landmarks in the table below.
To record a carving, walk up to the rock and press the interact button — your character will sketch it in the journal. According to GamePressure, if you stand right up against the rock, the prompt may not work, so step back a little. Send your finds from any Post Office.
According to the wiki, before meeting Francis you can record no more than 9 carvings: the tenth will not activate until the quest has started. So it is better to talk to him first.
Map: where all 10 rock carvings are
The numbers on the map match the table below (route order). The dots are placed by in-game coordinates, so the distances between them are true to the game.
Where to find all 10 rock carvings
The numbers follow a convenient route: West Elizabeth → Ambarino → New Hanover. There are no carvings in New Austin or Lemoyne.
| # | State | Region | Landmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Elizabeth | Big Valley, near Strawberry | The west shore of Lake Owanjila, opposite the dam |
| 2 | West Elizabeth | Big Valley | Near the top of Mount Shann, north of Strawberry, above the "T" in the West label |
| 3 | Ambarino | Grizzlies West | The end of the road at the top of Mount Hagen, past the former O’Driscoll camp |
| 4 | Ambarino | Grizzlies West | Whinyard Strait: a rock above the water north of the wooden bridge near Window Rock |
| 5 | Ambarino | Grizzlies East | A rock plateau south of Moonstone Pond |
| 6 | New Hanover | Cumberland Forest | A mountaintop near Bacchus Station: head down between the trees to a ledge with a view of Fort Wallace |
| 7 | New Hanover | Cumberland Forest | The western edge of the forest, a rock above the Dakota River, over the rope bridge |
| 8 | New Hanover | The Heartlands | Near the top of a mountain northwest of Flatneck Station, above the Dakota River |
| 9 | New Hanover | Roanoke Ridge | A rock by the road west of the "N" in the Roanoke label, east of Deer Cottage |
| 10 | New Hanover | Roanoke Ridge | The east shore of Elysian Pool, by the road north of the bridge |
Landmarks follow the Red Dead Wiki, GamePressure and GTABase: these sources describe the same 10 spots. The RDR2.org guide has a different set — it is missing the two carvings above the Dakota River and instead lists two spots near Elysian Pool, one of which seems to be a duplicate. If you are cross-checking several guides, go by this list. The full regional map is on the RDR2 map page.
A handy rock carving route
The ten spots are easy to collect in three trips.
- West Elizabeth (#1–2). Start from Francis’s cabin: Lake Owanjila and Mount Shann are not far from Strawberry, so you can get them right after the conversation.
- Ambarino (#3–5). Mount Hagen, Whinyard Strait near Window Rock and the plateau south of Moonstone Pond.
- New Hanover (#6–10). From Bacchus Station across the western edge of Cumberland Forest above the Dakota River to the mountain northwest of Flatneck Station, then east to Deer Cottage and Elysian Pool in Roanoke Ridge.
You can mail the carvings from any Post Office on the way; there is no need to go back to Francis. The main thing is not to forget to collect the invitation letter after the tenth.
Francis Sinclair’s rewards
| Carvings sent | Reward |
|---|---|
| 1 carving | $10 and a bottle of Kentucky Bourbon |
| 5 carvings | Rock Statue — a stone figurine |
| 10 carvings | The letter Invitation from Francis Sinclair and a final visit to the cabin |
| In the cabin | Old Brass Compass — an ingredient for the Raven Claw Talisman |
The $10 for the first carving is mentioned by the wiki, RDR2.org and GTABase; the PowerPyx guide does not list any money among the rewards.
Once you send all ten, the invitation letter arrives in about 1–2 in-game days. Collect it at the Post Office and go back to the cabin near Strawberry.
Ending spoiler. Francis is no longer there. His mother is holding a baby with the same birthmark Francis had, and the walls are covered with a mural of your carvings and notes about time travel. According to Red Dead Wiki and rdr2.org, the carvings he was collecting show skyscrapers and cities of the future (the wiki adds an atom and a nuclear explosion). So Francis is most likely a time traveler. The birthmark over his right eye reminds fans of the mark of Kraff, the deity of the Epsilon Program cult from GTA. Rdr2.org presents it as a nod to GTA, while Red Dead Wiki and GTA Wiki consider it a coincidence.
On the table in the cabin lies the Old Brass Compass. It is an ingredient for the Raven Claw Talisman, which the Fence crafts. According to Red Dead Wiki and rdr2.org, the talisman permanently slows the degradation of all weapons by 20%.
Tips so you do not miss anything
- Take the compass right away. According to PowerPyx, the door locks after you leave the cabin, and you can miss the Old Brass Compass. Grab it from the table right after the cutscene, before you walk out.
- Talk to Francis first. According to the wiki, the tenth carving will not register without talking to him, so it is better to start the quest before you go looking.
- Combine routes. Near Elysian Pool, Bacchus Station and Flatneck Station there are also dinosaur bones and dreamcatchers.
- Careful in the mountains. According to Gamepressure, Mount Hagen calls for warm clothing, a fall from the ledge near Bacchus Station is fatal, and near Moonstone Pond a slip means climbing back up again. Save before you descend.
Rock carvings and 100%
For 100% you need to finish "Geology for Beginners" in full: send all 10 carvings and return to the cabin with the invitation. The wiki page about the carvings has a line saying finding at least one is enough, but the same wiki’s 100% page and the PowerPyx guide require the whole quest.
See the remaining requirements on the how to get 100% in RDR2 page.
RDR2 rock carvings FAQ
How many rock carvings are in RDR2?
10. Three in Ambarino, two in West Elizabeth and five in New Hanover.
Where do you find Francis Sinclair in RDR2?
By a cabin northwest of Strawberry, in Big Valley (West Elizabeth). The quest "Geology for Beginners" is available from Chapter 2.
What does Francis Sinclair give you for all the carvings?
An invitation back to the cabin. The Old Brass Compass, an ingredient for the Raven Claw Talisman, lies on the table there. Before that you get $10 and Kentucky Bourbon for the first carving and a Rock Statue for five. The talisman slows weapon degradation by 20%.
Does Francis give you a map of the carvings?
No. He shows you a book of examples and gives you a calling card with his address. There are no map markers; you find the carvings by landmarks.
Can you miss the Old Brass Compass?
Yes, according to PowerPyx the cabin door locks after you leave. Take the compass from the table right after the cutscene.
Are rock carvings required for 100% in RDR2?
Yes. You have to finish "Geology for Beginners" in full: all 10 carvings and the final visit to the cabin.
Sources
- Official: Rockstar Games, Rockstar Newswire, Rockstar Support, Take-Two Interactive
- Databases and guides: Red Dead Wiki, RDR2.org, GTABase, PowerPyx
- Press: GamesRadar, PC Gamer, IGN, VGC, Game Informer
Every fact is checked against official sources or at least two independent ones; player-sourced data is labelled in the text. Images are official Rockstar Games material. GTA Top is not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.