If you want Dr. Boyd to break out her Carol-ana Jones Whip from her backpack, a sure way to do it would be to say, "Well, I don't have any idea what your talking about because all I see are shamen and more shamen, and it would seem that shamen were painting shamen while having a big shaman party, and were probably using sotol reeds...yeah, lots of sotol reeds with paint on the ends to draw the shamen, and all the other shamen watched and then with another sotol reed drew a picture of the shaman painting."
Although this may be the view of some archaeologists, Dr. Carolyn Boyd has convinced us otherwise over the span of the course. Her dedicated research and amazing teaching ability made for a truly eye opening experience with the rock art. Elton Prewitt gave his time, and I'm sure much of his patience, to helping us learn about the "dirt" archaeology of the Lower Pecos region. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in not only rock art, but archaeology in general. Using both Elton and Dr. Boyd's knowledge of two different topics within archaeology, the links from rock art to "dirt" archaeology are amazing. I would tell you the details of the course and the sites, but the only way you can do that is to come take a class from Shumla.....If you still believe that shamen are the only figures represented in the rock shelters, you must be high on peyote.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A Sssssssnaky Finish!
Hello, everyone!
The field recording wrapped up in fine style! On Monday, the students captured details on the 16 anthropomorphs in Hibiscus Shelter, along with photos and a site form update. We all had to keep a close watch for the speck-back ticks that seemed to be crawling all through this rockshelter.
Tuesday morning was overcast with occasional light mist – and cooler than expected. This was good, because after the grueling four-wheel drive to get to Running Deer Shelter, we arrived on the site to find a pair of rock rattlesnakes ensconced in the protected overhang – one snake at each end of the shelter! Neither rattler seemed inclined to remove themselves, so we just let them be and worked around them. They didn't move the whole time we were there.
We finished the day with another 19 anthropomorphs captured. We didn't discover the 20th one until we were packed up and heading out, so Dr. Boyd and I will have to return later to capture this one. This site gets its name from the line of 38 deer figures that extend the length of the pictograph panel that is roughly 15 meters long. One very intriguing element in the panel is an impaled deer encircled by anthropomorphs who seem to be herding the animal; could we have a tiny bit of information telling us about the organization of communal hunts? The style here is also quite interesting. While it clearly falls withing the Pecos River Style as presently defined, it also approaches the Red Linear Style in execution and scale. A most interesting panel of rock art, and one that we need to examine further and analyze carefully.
After tip-toeing around the rattlesnakes and collecting our data, we were not surprised to find two sets of wickiup rings beside the trail back down to the vehicles. Now that we know what these features look like, and where they occur, they are popping up all over the place!
Our goal this year was to collect data on at least 100 anthropomorphs, and we met that goal with a little to spare. These students are probably seeing pictographs in their sleep by now, but they have done a superb job of data collection!
Better sign off for now, and go check on the progress being made on the data processing.
Elton Prewitt
(The "Old Canyon Goat")
The field recording wrapped up in fine style! On Monday, the students captured details on the 16 anthropomorphs in Hibiscus Shelter, along with photos and a site form update. We all had to keep a close watch for the speck-back ticks that seemed to be crawling all through this rockshelter.
Tuesday morning was overcast with occasional light mist – and cooler than expected. This was good, because after the grueling four-wheel drive to get to Running Deer Shelter, we arrived on the site to find a pair of rock rattlesnakes ensconced in the protected overhang – one snake at each end of the shelter! Neither rattler seemed inclined to remove themselves, so we just let them be and worked around them. They didn't move the whole time we were there.
We finished the day with another 19 anthropomorphs captured. We didn't discover the 20th one until we were packed up and heading out, so Dr. Boyd and I will have to return later to capture this one. This site gets its name from the line of 38 deer figures that extend the length of the pictograph panel that is roughly 15 meters long. One very intriguing element in the panel is an impaled deer encircled by anthropomorphs who seem to be herding the animal; could we have a tiny bit of information telling us about the organization of communal hunts? The style here is also quite interesting. While it clearly falls withing the Pecos River Style as presently defined, it also approaches the Red Linear Style in execution and scale. A most interesting panel of rock art, and one that we need to examine further and analyze carefully.
After tip-toeing around the rattlesnakes and collecting our data, we were not surprised to find two sets of wickiup rings beside the trail back down to the vehicles. Now that we know what these features look like, and where they occur, they are popping up all over the place!
Our goal this year was to collect data on at least 100 anthropomorphs, and we met that goal with a little to spare. These students are probably seeing pictographs in their sleep by now, but they have done a superb job of data collection!
Better sign off for now, and go check on the progress being made on the data processing.
Elton Prewitt
(The "Old Canyon Goat")
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The Hunt for Anthropomorphs!
Hi, folks!
The talented students this year engaged in an extended hunt for anthropomorphs in Halo Shelter. They successfully sketched and made detailed descriptions of 75 figures, ranging in size from less than 10 cm (possibly the smallest Pecos River Style anthropomorph known) to almost a meter in height. This is the most detailed compilation of this kind of data from a single rockshelter panel yet undertaken here.
Just in case you do not know what an anthropomorph is, it is a depiction of a human or human-like figure. With the exception of one figure in Hibiscus Shelter, anthropomorphs in the Pecos River Style are depicted as gender neutral. This contrasts with the Red Linear Style (which occurs in the same region – and many times in the same shelters) where gender is very graphically depicted.
On Tuesday, they waded across the Devils River to visit Mystic shelter to contrast variations in the style, then on Friday they forded the river again to visit Cedar Springs Shelter to contrast both stylistic variations and sizes of figures – some here are up to 5 meters in height.
On both these days, everyone had an opportunity to cool their heels in the chilly waters of the Devils River (see the slide show posted by Angel Johnson). It hasn't been all hiking, recording, and splashing in the river for the students. Each was assigned an article to read, and they presented discussions and critiques of the materials in the articles. This has been good practice for them to read published material critically, then make class presentations – it will help them as they develop their individual careers.
Tonight they are in for a special treat! Shumla is hosting a celebration of the the establishment of the David S. Dibble Research Endowment at the campus facilities. Barbecued pork loins and chicken will be served up to students, staff, spouses, and local visitors. The honored guests are Anne and David W., widow and youngest son of Dave Dibble. While Anne has been to Shumla before, it will be the first visit to the campus for David; we are looking forward to having them as guests as we honor Dave.
Well, the Old Canyon Goat had best sign off and get out to the Shumla campus to help prepare for this evenings festivities!
Elton Prewitt
The talented students this year engaged in an extended hunt for anthropomorphs in Halo Shelter. They successfully sketched and made detailed descriptions of 75 figures, ranging in size from less than 10 cm (possibly the smallest Pecos River Style anthropomorph known) to almost a meter in height. This is the most detailed compilation of this kind of data from a single rockshelter panel yet undertaken here.
Just in case you do not know what an anthropomorph is, it is a depiction of a human or human-like figure. With the exception of one figure in Hibiscus Shelter, anthropomorphs in the Pecos River Style are depicted as gender neutral. This contrasts with the Red Linear Style (which occurs in the same region – and many times in the same shelters) where gender is very graphically depicted.
On Tuesday, they waded across the Devils River to visit Mystic shelter to contrast variations in the style, then on Friday they forded the river again to visit Cedar Springs Shelter to contrast both stylistic variations and sizes of figures – some here are up to 5 meters in height.
On both these days, everyone had an opportunity to cool their heels in the chilly waters of the Devils River (see the slide show posted by Angel Johnson). It hasn't been all hiking, recording, and splashing in the river for the students. Each was assigned an article to read, and they presented discussions and critiques of the materials in the articles. This has been good practice for them to read published material critically, then make class presentations – it will help them as they develop their individual careers.
Tonight they are in for a special treat! Shumla is hosting a celebration of the the establishment of the David S. Dibble Research Endowment at the campus facilities. Barbecued pork loins and chicken will be served up to students, staff, spouses, and local visitors. The honored guests are Anne and David W., widow and youngest son of Dave Dibble. While Anne has been to Shumla before, it will be the first visit to the campus for David; we are looking forward to having them as guests as we honor Dave.
Well, the Old Canyon Goat had best sign off and get out to the Shumla campus to help prepare for this evenings festivities!
Elton Prewitt
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
From cool to hot!
Hi, everyone!
Well, the "Old Canyon Goat" stayed a bit cool the first week of field school this year - lows in the 50s and 60s with highs only in the 70s and 80s. Plus, we had quite a bit of rain the first few days - we're hoping for a ceniza and ocotillo bloom as a result. But, the cool weather abruptly turned hot Monday, and we topped 100 degrees for the first time Tuesday.
We have another great group of students - they are all really sharp and are a fun group to work with. After settling into their familiarization with sites near the Pecos River such as Fate Bell Shelter and White Shaman Shelter, they proved their mettle with the 8-hour hike into and out of Black Cave.
This week we are concentrating on Halo Shelter over in the Devils River area. Today they get the opportunity to ford the Devils River to visit Mystic Shelter and compare the anthropomorphs there with those they have been recording in detail in Halo Shelter. I think they will enjoy the planned leisure time in the river before we return to the Shumla campus.
Our cook this year, Donna Mueller, has been feeding us like royalty! I don't think anyone is going hungry - these guys know how to put away the chow!
Time to head out to Campus and meet Dr. Carolyn Boyd and the students, then head for the Devils River, so better sign off for now.
Elton Prewitt
(the "Old Canyon Goat")
Well, the "Old Canyon Goat" stayed a bit cool the first week of field school this year - lows in the 50s and 60s with highs only in the 70s and 80s. Plus, we had quite a bit of rain the first few days - we're hoping for a ceniza and ocotillo bloom as a result. But, the cool weather abruptly turned hot Monday, and we topped 100 degrees for the first time Tuesday.
We have another great group of students - they are all really sharp and are a fun group to work with. After settling into their familiarization with sites near the Pecos River such as Fate Bell Shelter and White Shaman Shelter, they proved their mettle with the 8-hour hike into and out of Black Cave.
This week we are concentrating on Halo Shelter over in the Devils River area. Today they get the opportunity to ford the Devils River to visit Mystic Shelter and compare the anthropomorphs there with those they have been recording in detail in Halo Shelter. I think they will enjoy the planned leisure time in the river before we return to the Shumla campus.
Our cook this year, Donna Mueller, has been feeding us like royalty! I don't think anyone is going hungry - these guys know how to put away the chow!
Time to head out to Campus and meet Dr. Carolyn Boyd and the students, then head for the Devils River, so better sign off for now.
Elton Prewitt
(the "Old Canyon Goat")
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Day Three - Recording Maniacs!
Students arrived safe and sound Sunday evening and Monday morning. We kicked off the week with an introduction to the archaeology (which includes rock art)of the Lower Pecos River Region by hiking down to Fate Bell rock art shelter at Seminole Canyon State Park.
Tuesday GIS guru Dr. Nate Currit (Associate Professor in the Geography department of Texas State University http://uweb.txstate.edu/~nc17/index.html) joined us on another hike to an amazing rock shelter called White Shaman. After we learned about possible Huichol connections with Pecos River Style rock art and flexed our recording muscles at the rock art site, we came back to the lab for a GPS and topo map lesson, which prepared us for the next days lecture about GIS.
Wednesday we pressed our endurance on a "refreshing" 7 hour hike through Seminole and Presa canyons to get a feel for the geography of the area and collect GPS coordinates for our GIS demonstration from 4-5 rock art sites. That night we got a taste of how GPS/GIS could be used to great advantage in students' future research.
We slept in this morning to give our new muscles a chance to heal, but bid adeiu to our new friend Dr. Currit before we hit the road for our first actual recording session. Students learned to record and photograph gorgeous examples of Pecos River Style rock art. Another team spent the day recording archeology site information. The students are recording maniacs! Many of them have extensive experience in the field and all are amazing data collectors with observant minds and eyes. We are looking forward to an extremely productive and valuable field season!
At the moment, I am looking forward to my cot in the bunkhouse that I share with the other girls. And maybe a shower.
Signing off for the evening... Angel
Tuesday GIS guru Dr. Nate Currit (Associate Professor in the Geography department of Texas State University http://uweb.txstate.edu/~nc17/index.html) joined us on another hike to an amazing rock shelter called White Shaman. After we learned about possible Huichol connections with Pecos River Style rock art and flexed our recording muscles at the rock art site, we came back to the lab for a GPS and topo map lesson, which prepared us for the next days lecture about GIS.
Wednesday we pressed our endurance on a "refreshing" 7 hour hike through Seminole and Presa canyons to get a feel for the geography of the area and collect GPS coordinates for our GIS demonstration from 4-5 rock art sites. That night we got a taste of how GPS/GIS could be used to great advantage in students' future research.
We slept in this morning to give our new muscles a chance to heal, but bid adeiu to our new friend Dr. Currit before we hit the road for our first actual recording session. Students learned to record and photograph gorgeous examples of Pecos River Style rock art. Another team spent the day recording archeology site information. The students are recording maniacs! Many of them have extensive experience in the field and all are amazing data collectors with observant minds and eyes. We are looking forward to an extremely productive and valuable field season!
At the moment, I am looking forward to my cot in the bunkhouse that I share with the other girls. And maybe a shower.
Signing off for the evening... Angel
Friday, February 15, 2008
2008 Field Season Quickly Approaching!!!
Hello! Welcome to the Field Methods in Rock Art BLOG!
Would you like to take an exciting and challenging course during the minimester this year? We are offering the only rock art recording field methods course in the United States. Join us 12-29 May 2008 for an unforgettable experience in the Lower Pecos studying Pecos River Style Rock Art, research design, GIS, the meaning function of rock art, etc.
We hope you like what you see. Have a look at the links below and give Shumla a call if you have any questions regarding your participation in this year's rock art field school. We are looking forward to meeting you!
LINKS:
If you haven't check out Shumla's website already, click on this link for more info: http://www.shumla.org/programs/university-classes/FieldMethodsRockArt/index.htm
OR visit the Texas State Office of Correspondence and Extension's website: http://www.studyanywhere.txstate.edu/ext_anthropology
Texas State University in San Marcos's Anthropology Dept website: http://www.txstate.edu/anthropology/
Shumla office: 432.292.4848
programs@shumla.org
When you call, let us know how you heard about this field school opportunity!
Thanks!
Would you like to take an exciting and challenging course during the minimester this year? We are offering the only rock art recording field methods course in the United States. Join us 12-29 May 2008 for an unforgettable experience in the Lower Pecos studying Pecos River Style Rock Art, research design, GIS, the meaning function of rock art, etc.
We hope you like what you see. Have a look at the links below and give Shumla a call if you have any questions regarding your participation in this year's rock art field school. We are looking forward to meeting you!
LINKS:
If you haven't check out Shumla's website already, click on this link for more info: http://www.shumla.org/programs/university-classes/FieldMethodsRockArt/index.htm
OR visit the Texas State Office of Correspondence and Extension's website: http://www.studyanywhere.txstate.edu/ext_anthropology
Texas State University in San Marcos's Anthropology Dept website: http://www.txstate.edu/anthropology/
Shumla office: 432.292.4848
programs@shumla.org
When you call, let us know how you heard about this field school opportunity!
Thanks!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Back in the office...
Being back in the office is almost surreal, it feels like ages, but just yesterday that we were out in the field enjoying the perfect weather and the natural and cultural beauty of the Lower Pecos. The last few days of the field school, students spent the mornings organizing the data we had collected into databases, triple checked the forms we filled out, and analyzed digital photos to perhaps bring out more than the naked eye can detect with the use of PhotoShop.
There is still much to be done back at the office to tie up loose ends, such as writing up the field school report and further experimenting with PhotoShop magic. This was such a successful three weeks, all involved should be immensely proud in their achievements.
Thank you all for coming out and being a part of this field season. We hope you will share your thoughts and experiences with friends and family and think about returning next year...or better yet, begin your own research project on the Lower Pecos!
Take good care and keep in touch!
-Angel Johnson, TA
There is still much to be done back at the office to tie up loose ends, such as writing up the field school report and further experimenting with PhotoShop magic. This was such a successful three weeks, all involved should be immensely proud in their achievements.
Thank you all for coming out and being a part of this field season. We hope you will share your thoughts and experiences with friends and family and think about returning next year...or better yet, begin your own research project on the Lower Pecos!
Take good care and keep in touch!
-Angel Johnson, TA
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