Difference between revisions of "Rock art" - New World Encyclopedia
Nick Perez (talk | contribs) |
Nick Perez (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
[[Category:Art]] | [[Category:Art]] | ||
| − | '''Rock art''' is a term in [[archaeology]] for any man-made markings made on natural stone; most often it refers to markings and paintings on rocks made by | + | '''Rock art''' is a term in [[archaeology]] for any man-made markings made on natural stone; most often it refers to markings and paintings on rocks made by [[ Paleolithic]] and [[Mesolithic]] human beings. The phenomena is thought by many to be the foundations of [[art]] as well as an indication of the development of cognitive and abstract ability in the evolution of mankind, as most rock art is thousands of years old, created before the advent of the first major civilizations.<ref>(2000) Roetzel, Kathy [[http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/rockart/dating.html"Rock Art: Dating"]] Retrieved December 4, 2007</ref> Styles, symbolism and messages differ from one culture to the next, as do the academic theories as to why man started to create works of art on rocks. What can be said, however, is that blah. |
[[Image:petroglyph jqjacobs.jpg|frame|right|Petroglyph attributed to Classic Vernal Style, Fremont archaeological culture, eastern Utah.]] | [[Image:petroglyph jqjacobs.jpg|frame|right|Petroglyph attributed to Classic Vernal Style, Fremont archaeological culture, eastern Utah.]] | ||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
The term rock art can be divided into three distinct categories: | The term rock art can be divided into three distinct categories: | ||
| − | *[[Petroglyph]]s - carvings made into stone surfaces | + | *[[Petroglyph]]s - carvings made into stone surfaces, created by rock removal, including scratching, abrading, pecking, carving, drilling, incising and sculpting. Locations of choice are rock facets coated with patina, a dark mineral accumulation on rock surfaces. Petroglyphs remove the patina, exposing the contrasting lighter rock interior. Instances of negative images, produced by removing the patina surrounding the intended figure, are also known. Sometimes petroglyphs are painted or accentuated by polishing. The degree of repatination indicates relative dating. Some of the most ancient petroglyphs are the same color as the surrounding rock. |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | *[[Pictograph]]s - paintings made on rocks and the inside of [[cave painting|cave]]s. Survival of ancient paintings is attributable to use of mineral pigments, most commonly manganese, hematite, malachite, gypsum, limonite, clays and various oxides. The best preserved pictography is found under sheltering overhangs and in caves. The simplest pictographs are wet clay finger drawings and charcoal drawings. To produce crayons or paints first the minerals had to be finely ground and combined with binding materials. Crayons and animal hair brushes have been excavated in caves with paintings. Exceedingly fine lines evidence the production of excellent brushes. The most common rock art element found around the world, the human hand, exemplifies several pictography types. A technique used since the Neolithic is spraying around a hand, resulting in a negative image. The more common positive print was often made with pigment applied to the hand and transferred to the rock. | |
| − | |||
| − | + | *[[petroforms]] - designs,patterns or primitive scupltures made by the aligning or piling of stones. Petroforms include a rock [[cairn]] or [[inukshuk]], an upright [[monolith]] slab, a [[medicine wheel]], a [[fire pit]], a [[desert kite]], or simply rocks lined up or stacked for various reasons. Old World petroforms include the [[Carnac stones]] and many other megalithic monuments, such as the original settings for [[Stonehenge]] and [[Dolmen]]s found around he world.<ref>Kurtz, Patricia A. "As It Is Above, So It Is Below" Native Peoples Magazine [[http://www.nativepeoples.com/article/articles/197/1/Petroforms"Petroforms"]] Retrieved December 4, 2007</ref>Petroforms are made from large rocks and boulders, often over large areas of ground, unlike the smaller petroglyphs and pictographs. | |
| − | [[ | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | ==Analysis== | |
| + | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
Traditionally, individual markings are called [[Motif (art)|motif]]s and groups of motifs are known as [[panel]]s. Sequences of panels are treated as [[archaeological site]]s. This method of classifying rock art however has become less popular as the structure imposed is unlikely to have had any relevance to the art's creators. Even the word 'art' carries with it many modern prejudices about the purpose of the features. | Traditionally, individual markings are called [[Motif (art)|motif]]s and groups of motifs are known as [[panel]]s. Sequences of panels are treated as [[archaeological site]]s. This method of classifying rock art however has become less popular as the structure imposed is unlikely to have had any relevance to the art's creators. Even the word 'art' carries with it many modern prejudices about the purpose of the features. | ||
Rock art can be found across a wide geographical and temporal spread of [[archaeological culture|cultures]] perhaps to mark territory, to record historical events or stories or to help enact [[ritual]]s. Some art seems to depict real events whilst many other examples are apparently entirely abstract. | Rock art can be found across a wide geographical and temporal spread of [[archaeological culture|cultures]] perhaps to mark territory, to record historical events or stories or to help enact [[ritual]]s. Some art seems to depict real events whilst many other examples are apparently entirely abstract. | ||
| − | |||
Common features in rock art that are related to portraying [[shamans]] were [[bones]] and other [[skeletal]] remains on their [[coat]]s. One reason for the bones would be that they were used as a type of [[armor]] for protecting the shaman on his journeys through different worlds. [[Devlet]], the author of "Rock Art and the Material Culture of Siberian and Central Asian Shamanism" highlights, “Another interpretation of these skeletal costume elements explains them as representations of a shaman brought back to life after the [[dismemberment]] that occurs during the initiation process: the depicted bones thus refer to the wearer’s own [[skeleton]]” (43). The concept of [[death]] and [[revival]] is often associated with shamans and the way they are portrayed. The bones were usually on the back of the shaman’s jacket or used on the breast-piece. | Common features in rock art that are related to portraying [[shamans]] were [[bones]] and other [[skeletal]] remains on their [[coat]]s. One reason for the bones would be that they were used as a type of [[armor]] for protecting the shaman on his journeys through different worlds. [[Devlet]], the author of "Rock Art and the Material Culture of Siberian and Central Asian Shamanism" highlights, “Another interpretation of these skeletal costume elements explains them as representations of a shaman brought back to life after the [[dismemberment]] that occurs during the initiation process: the depicted bones thus refer to the wearer’s own [[skeleton]]” (43). The concept of [[death]] and [[revival]] is often associated with shamans and the way they are portrayed. The bones were usually on the back of the shaman’s jacket or used on the breast-piece. | ||
| Line 40: | Line 32: | ||
A more mainstream characteristic is the detection of the shaman’s [[ritualistic]] [[drum]]. Even though there are different types, shapes, and images painted on the shaman’s drum, it is clearly depicted in the rock art. The range of [[decoration]] used on the drums varied from simplistic to innately elaborate. The resemblance is remarkably illustrated, “In the [[Altai]] [[region]], images depicted on historical shamanic drums demonstrate a striking similarity with what is shown on the rock engravings” (Devlet 47). | A more mainstream characteristic is the detection of the shaman’s [[ritualistic]] [[drum]]. Even though there are different types, shapes, and images painted on the shaman’s drum, it is clearly depicted in the rock art. The range of [[decoration]] used on the drums varied from simplistic to innately elaborate. The resemblance is remarkably illustrated, “In the [[Altai]] [[region]], images depicted on historical shamanic drums demonstrate a striking similarity with what is shown on the rock engravings” (Devlet 47). | ||
| − | + | ==Gallery== | |
| − | + | <Gallery> | |
| + | Image:Sanfrancisco paintings.jpg|Rock paintings, [[Mexico]] | ||
| + | Image:Una Vida Chaco Canyon rock art_enhanced 2.jpg|Petroglyphs are easily accessible from the Una Vida site, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico. | ||
| + | Image:Kakadu 2419.jpg|[[Indigenous Australian art#Rock Painting|Indigenous Australian rock painting]] in [[Kakadu National Park]]. | ||
| + | Image:Bhimbetka.JPG|[[Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka]] rock painting, [[World Heritage Site]] | ||
| + | Image:pictograph jqjacobs.jpg|Pictograph, southeastern Utah, attributed to Basketmaker period, Puebloan archaeological culture. | ||
| + | Image:Bushmen Rock Painting.jpg|thumb|Bushmen Rockpainting in Zimbabwe | ||
| + | Image:Marin Mogor Petroglifo 3.jpg|thumb | ||
| + | Image:Hawaii petroglyph men.jpg|thumb|Petroglyphs at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park | ||
| + | |||
| + | </Gallery> | ||
| + | [[Image:Cairn Fuglafjørður.jpg|thumb|]] | ||
| + | [[Image:Carnac Ménec alignments.jpg|thumb|]] | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 23:59, 4 December 2007
Rock art is a term in archaeology for any man-made markings made on natural stone; most often it refers to markings and paintings on rocks made by Paleolithic and Mesolithic human beings. The phenomena is thought by many to be the foundations of art as well as an indication of the development of cognitive and abstract ability in the evolution of mankind, as most rock art is thousands of years old, created before the advent of the first major civilizations.[1] Styles, symbolism and messages differ from one culture to the next, as do the academic theories as to why man started to create works of art on rocks. What can be said, however, is that blah.
Breakdown
The term rock art can be divided into three distinct categories:
- Petroglyphs - carvings made into stone surfaces, created by rock removal, including scratching, abrading, pecking, carving, drilling, incising and sculpting. Locations of choice are rock facets coated with patina, a dark mineral accumulation on rock surfaces. Petroglyphs remove the patina, exposing the contrasting lighter rock interior. Instances of negative images, produced by removing the patina surrounding the intended figure, are also known. Sometimes petroglyphs are painted or accentuated by polishing. The degree of repatination indicates relative dating. Some of the most ancient petroglyphs are the same color as the surrounding rock.
- Pictographs - paintings made on rocks and the inside of caves. Survival of ancient paintings is attributable to use of mineral pigments, most commonly manganese, hematite, malachite, gypsum, limonite, clays and various oxides. The best preserved pictography is found under sheltering overhangs and in caves. The simplest pictographs are wet clay finger drawings and charcoal drawings. To produce crayons or paints first the minerals had to be finely ground and combined with binding materials. Crayons and animal hair brushes have been excavated in caves with paintings. Exceedingly fine lines evidence the production of excellent brushes. The most common rock art element found around the world, the human hand, exemplifies several pictography types. A technique used since the Neolithic is spraying around a hand, resulting in a negative image. The more common positive print was often made with pigment applied to the hand and transferred to the rock.
- petroforms - designs,patterns or primitive scupltures made by the aligning or piling of stones. Petroforms include a rock cairn or inukshuk, an upright monolith slab, a medicine wheel, a fire pit, a desert kite, or simply rocks lined up or stacked for various reasons. Old World petroforms include the Carnac stones and many other megalithic monuments, such as the original settings for Stonehenge and Dolmens found around he world.[2]Petroforms are made from large rocks and boulders, often over large areas of ground, unlike the smaller petroglyphs and pictographs.
Analysis
Traditionally, individual markings are called motifs and groups of motifs are known as panels. Sequences of panels are treated as archaeological sites. This method of classifying rock art however has become less popular as the structure imposed is unlikely to have had any relevance to the art's creators. Even the word 'art' carries with it many modern prejudices about the purpose of the features.
Rock art can be found across a wide geographical and temporal spread of cultures perhaps to mark territory, to record historical events or stories or to help enact rituals. Some art seems to depict real events whilst many other examples are apparently entirely abstract.
Common features in rock art that are related to portraying shamans were bones and other skeletal remains on their coats. One reason for the bones would be that they were used as a type of armor for protecting the shaman on his journeys through different worlds. Devlet, the author of "Rock Art and the Material Culture of Siberian and Central Asian Shamanism" highlights, “Another interpretation of these skeletal costume elements explains them as representations of a shaman brought back to life after the dismemberment that occurs during the initiation process: the depicted bones thus refer to the wearer’s own skeleton” (43). The concept of death and revival is often associated with shamans and the way they are portrayed. The bones were usually on the back of the shaman’s jacket or used on the breast-piece.
Another important aspect used to distinguish shamans in rock art depictions is that they are wearing fringed fabric. There are differences in the lengths of the fringe and where on the shaman the fringe is located. In the rock art, the fringe was usually long single strands attached to different parts of the shaman’s body. The symbolism of the fringe can be interpreted in several ways. One example is, “The fringe on a shaman’s coat is an important element, which marks his or her ornithomorphic nature (i.e. the ability to transform into a bird or to gain its abilities such as the capacity for flight)” (Devlet 44). The concept of fringe being correlated with flying was mainly used in rock art in the Altai, Tuva, and Mongolian regions.
A more mainstream characteristic is the detection of the shaman’s ritualistic drum. Even though there are different types, shapes, and images painted on the shaman’s drum, it is clearly depicted in the rock art. The range of decoration used on the drums varied from simplistic to innately elaborate. The resemblance is remarkably illustrated, “In the Altai region, images depicted on historical shamanic drums demonstrate a striking similarity with what is shown on the rock engravings” (Devlet 47).
Gallery
- Sanfrancisco paintings.jpg
Rock paintings, Mexico
Petroglyphs are easily accessible from the Una Vida site, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico.
- Kakadu 2419.jpg
Indigenous Australian rock painting in Kakadu National Park.
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka rock painting, World Heritage Site
Pictograph, southeastern Utah, attributed to Basketmaker period, Puebloan archaeological culture.
Bushmen Rockpainting in Zimbabwe
thumb
Petroglyphs at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Notes
- ↑ (2000) Roetzel, Kathy ["Rock Art: Dating"] Retrieved December 4, 2007
- ↑ Kurtz, Patricia A. "As It Is Above, So It Is Below" Native Peoples Magazine ["Petroforms"] Retrieved December 4, 2007
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Ekaterina, Devlet. "Rock Art and the Material Culture of Siberian and Central Asian Shamanism." The Archaeology of Shamanism. 2001 43-54. 01/04/2007 <http://scandinavian.wisc.edu/dubois/Courses_folder/shamanism_readings/2_9_13/Devlet.pdf>.
- Malotki, Ekkehart and Weaver, Donald E. Jr., 2002, Stone Chisel and Yucca Brush: Colorao Plateau Rock Art, Kiva Publishing Inc., Walnut, CA, ISBN 1-885772-27-0 (cloth). For the "general public," this book has well over 200 color prints with commentary on each site whre the photos were taken; the organization begins with the earliest art and goes to modern times.
- Rohn, Arthur H. and Freguson, William M, 2006, Puebloan ruins of the Southwest, University of New Mexico Press, Albuqureque NM, ISBN-10 0-8263-3970-0 (pbk, : alk. paper). Adjunct to the primary discussion of the ruins, contains color prints of rock art at the sites, plus interpretations.
- Schaafsma, Polly, 1980, Indian Rock Art of the Southwest, School of American Research, Sana Fe, University of New Mexico press, Albuqureque NM, ISBN 0-8263-0913-5. Scholarly text with 349 references, 32 color plates, 283 black and white "Figures," 11 Maps, and 2 Tables.
External links
- RUPESTREWEB / LATIN AMERICAN ROCK ART. Articles, Zones, News, Rock art researchers directory
- Rock Art studies - A Bibliographic database at the Bancroft Library containing over 10,000 citations to the world's rock art literature.
- The website of Rock Art Foundation - Native American Rock Art
- Trust for African Rock Art
- British Rock Art Collection
- ARARA American Rock Art Research Association.
- Rupestre.net A rock art site, mainly devoted to Valcamonica and Alpine Rock Art.
- EuroPreArt The database of European Prehistoric Art.
- Art and Archaeology of the Dampier Archipelago
- Bradshaw Foundation Supports dissemination of information on rock art, migration, and the study of artistic man around the world.
- Rock Art in South Africa http://rockart.wits.ac.za/origins/
- UNESCO World Heritage: Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:
Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.
