Petroglyphs of the Mojave Desert

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Petroglyphs of the Mojave Desert

• By Falland M. Toscano
• Pathfinder 202
• Dr. R. Arvidson

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But What Is This Art?

• Greek for Rock Writing
• More easily found in Southwest U.S. due to sparse
  vegetation and less harsh weather, though they
  are present in states across the country
• Shinav coyote evil character in myths.

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Rock Art Classifications

• Petroglyphs artwork and depictions (usually of
  ancient Native American ceremonies or subsistence
  creatures) carved into rock. The rock of the
  Mojave is usually igneous rock.
• Pictographs scenes painted onto the rock.
  Unlike the petroglyphs in that the rock is not
  pitted or carved in any way.
• Geoglyphs artwork formed in the ground.
• Windum chief usually older man from an
  extended or nuclear family, who presides over
  ceremonies, trials, political events

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Styles Depend on Region
Styles Depend on Region
Pecked Incised Pit and Groove
Abstract, usually consists of designs, shapes, mnt. sheep included. More scenic and picturesque than the pecked style less abstract horsemen incl. 1 2 round pits dug into the ground w/ deep lines dug around pits random.
Common in the Midwest and Southwest Most frequently found in Canada, Northern Plains Found in the West Alberta Province and California.
Formed in harder rock. Incised in softer rock sandstone. Large boulders house this art.
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Close- Up of Pecked Style Art
Close- Up of Pecked Style Art
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Close-Up of an Inscribed Petroglyph
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Pit and Groove to This!
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The Writing is on the Wall?

• Yes! There are many meanings attributed to the
  petroglyphs and pictographs.
• The antap performed rituals at rock sites.
• Shamans in an altered state of mind.
• Family identification symbols on rock.
• Directional Signals.

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The Products of an Altered State

• It is believed by some that the grid-like pattern
  seen on rocks such as this are a result of the
  artists entering the first stage of
  hallucination. At this stage, the artists
  prefers to draw geometric shapes.

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Art from Another Level

• In the second level of altered consciousness, the
  artist is said to have incorporated life into the
  depictions. Oftentimes, they drew/etched
  pictures of animals they were familiar with, such
  as this snake.

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Third Tier Depictions

• This is a typical depiction of Chumash Art (art
  particular to the southwestern California region)
  made while the artist was in the third level of
  hallucination. All these transitions from one
  level to the other represent the shamans journey
  to another world a world that gives him the
  power to interpret dreams and forsee occasssions.

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Origin and Dating of the Rock Art

• Rock art made by high leaders of ancient
  tribes, dreamers, people of other nations who
  migrated to the Americas, supernatural powers
  (Yokuts), the Rock Baby (Kawaiisu), and by
  various members of the ancient tribes.
• Ha-ak something dreadful, ferocious

• Rock art is dated by collecting the lichens,
  minerals, and soils that grow over the rock and
  performing radioactive carbon dating on them.
  This is a limiting process because organic
  substances are not always present and it destroys
  part of the rock.

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Sentimental Meanings

• For Luiseno girls, puberty was a cause for
  ceremony. After being contained in a heated pit
  of rocks for 3 days, having their faces a mix of
  black white vertical lines and wavy, red
  horizontal lines for a month each, the girls ran
  to a particular rock and painted the rock with
  red diamond shapes.

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And This Rock Art is Important Because???

• Important outlet for obtaining knowledge of the
  peoples who formerly populated the Americas. In
  many cases, these depictions show the way of life
  of the tribes their beliefs, religions, cultures
  and traditions.
• Vandalism of these rock arts is becoming a
  problem as is the natural erosion of the rock!

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Oh, and One More Thing

• Though the rock art seems like a simple,
  straightforward topic, it is actually very
  controversial! Some believe the rock art is
  fake. Fraudulent artwork is being investigated.
• (Smile Chris!)

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Special Thanks To...

• Cole, Sally J. Legacy on Stone. Johnson
  Publishing. Boulder, CO. 1990.
• Cunkelman, Sarah C. A Comparison of Two Rock
  Art Complexes Within the Central Mojave Desert.
  California State University, San Bernardino.
  1991.
• Grant, Campbell. Rock Art of the American
  Indian. Thomas Y. Crowell Co. New York, NY.
  1967.
• Van Tilburg, JoAnne. Ancient Images on Stone
  Rock Art of the Californias. The Regents of the
  University of California. Los Angeles, CA.
  1983.
• McGlone, W., Leonard, P., Guthrie, J., Gillespie,
  R., Whittall, J. Ancient American Inscriptions
  Plow Marks or History? Early Sites Research
  Society. Sutton, MA. 1993.