Over the past 25 years, authors Don Christensen, Jerry Dickey, and Steven Freers have been recording and studying rock art at 450 sites in and around the Grand Canyon from the Mogollon Rim to the Utah state line. The results of this massive project are presented in some 425 photographs and 30 drawings that are a feast for the eye and the mind. These images cover a period from the Archaic to the near present, a continuous span of some 5,000 years.
The authors call themselves avocationalists, which is to say they lack formal training in archaeology, but rock art research defies scientific categorization. It is part art, part science, and part preservation. In recent years it has developed into a more formal discipline with generally accepted rules. The authors and their helpers reflect these developments, and this volume is an excellent example of what they can produce. In addition to everything else, this book contains how-to instructions for conducting rock art research.
Chapters cover the various aspects of investigation—research design, site classification, and rock art style. Research techniques are thoroughly explained, and the serious problem of dating rock art is discussed in depth. Lacking a practical and reliable scientific method of dating the art, researchers must rely on associated artifacts and recurring styles to approximate dates of execution. Every subtle clue is considered and recorded.
The chapter on rock art meaning is a fascinating discussion of the different theories and methods for interpreting the rock art subjects. Shamanism, astronomy, and memorials are just three popular explanations the authors consider without making a judgment. Lastly, they explore the problems of preservation. Rock art is fragile and it seems to attract an unusual number of vandals who like to paint on it, chip it off the stone walls, or just shoot it.
In addition to the stunning photographs, this volume is a valuable contribution to rock art research and the understanding of these enigmatic images.
