Rock Art 101 petroglyph and pictograph training

Exeter, CA pictographs		Coso Sheep
	A Rock Art Petroglyph and Pictograph Training Company ...the best protection for rock art is an informed and enlightened public.


Current Seminars click on Seminar # link Seminar #092510 Ridgecrest, CA Sept. 25-26, 2010 Seminar #10XXXX TBD California Oct. 2010 Seminar #11XXXX TBD California Nov. 2010 Who we are About our Seminars Who Should Attend Training Modules Release of Liability	Who we are Rock Art 101 is the brain child of Donald R. Austin and Alan P. Garfinkel. The multi-faceted program is designed to address the growing public interest in Archaeology in general and Rock Art Petroglyphs & Pictographs in particular. Alan holds a PhD in Anthropology, works as an Archaeologist for the State of California, has published several books and countless articles on the subject of archaeology and rock Art. Donald is a retired Engineer, works as an independent rock art researcher, and operates a petroglyph based art business.	Recent News about Rock Art 101 Bakersfield Californian
	About our Seminars Our seminars are held in the comfort of and convenience of hotel conference rooms. Whenever possible we try to negotiate special room rates for out-of-area attendees wishing to stay over at the hotel. The seminars are either one or two days, the first day consists of lecture, Power Point presentation and hands on exercises. The second day, when offered, consists of a field trip to a nearby rock art site. Day #1 is divide into 6 or 7 modules addressing specific subjects with short breaks in-between. Custom seminars can be developed for groups wanting specialized training. Click on each seminar number for particulars about that seminar	Dr. Alan Garfinkel with Coso Bighorn Sheep
	... a conservative estimate suggests an excess of 100,000 petroglyphs in one 90 square mile area of eastern California. Why was this area, now known as the Coso Range, adorned with such a concentration of strikingly beautiful and highly consistent rock engravings, predominantly those of ... read more opens a new window
	Who should attend Members of the interested general public, staff of cultural resource management firms, Native Americans with an interest in rock art, state and federal government employees, and individuals who just want an inexpensive, but comprehensive course on rock art & archaeology. Our efforts are especially timely since interest in the study of rock art is growing at a tremendous rate. Attendance at rock art conferences has never been greater and the number of new scientific articles based on rock art studies is increasing at a frenzied pace. The study of rock art, sometimes identified as the unfortunate stepchild in the field of archaeology, is now poised to offer a great and continued contribution to the field of prehistory – broadening and deepening our understanding of the past. Comments from past attendees: What a great class... interesting lectures, surprising material and good insights on Native American religion and prehistoric American Indian Graphics. - archaeologist Wow! This class was really amazing, gave me quite a bit to think over. I never knew the study of Indian rock drawings could be this much fun and the field trip was great. Best archaeology class I ever had. - student The lectures, video and field trip were really good. I didn't realize the material would be this interesting and very respectful to Native traditions. - Native American
Donald Austin Rock Art Recording at Sears Point, AZ S. Eberwein photo


	Training Module Descriptions See individual Seminars for Modules to be presented
	Module 10 Peopling of the Americas In order to understand rock art petroglyphs & pictographs it is important to first have an understanding of the culture who created it, where they came from and when. This module explores the current theories of migration into the New World through Beringia, along the the North Atlantic route, across the Pacific and from Australia via the Antarctic ice shelf.
	Module 11 What is Rock Art What makes something rock art? Are these peckings and paintings nothing more than Indian graffiti? Take a journey into the mind of Native Americans and learn about ancient Indian medicine men, animal powers, and the role of the environment on the daily lives of the ancient ones.
	Module 12 Rock Art Recording While it is great family fun to visit rock art locations, it is a greater experience to find and explore new, and perhaps yet undiscovered, petroglyph and pictograph sites. To that end, you can make a lasting contribution to the world of academia. This module describes some simple disciplines you can use to locate and record sites you may discover by using maps, documentation, forms, drawings, and photography.
	Module 13 Rock Art Types & Styles In the beginning the were simply two types of rock art- carvings and paintings (petroglyphs and pictographs). Now there seems to be as many styles of rock art as there are rock art researchers. Intended to help sort out prehistoric undertakings into 20th century classifications, has terminology such as 'style' and 'abstract' lost their meaning, and is rock art really 'art' at all? These questions are addressed as well as descriptions of some of the common and not-so-common rock art styles of California, the Great Basin and American Southwest.
	Module 14 Meaning and Function of Rock Art What do these strange and mysterious symbols on the rocks mean? We will sort out the mainstream and outrageous theories that have been advanced regarding rock art. Theories and models include hunting magic, shamanism, clan symbols, archaeastronomy, birthing stones and rain rocks, boundary markers, initiation rituals, sorcery, documentation of events, and oral traditions.
	Module 15 Dating Rock Art How old is it? Rock drawings and paintings are notoriously difficult to date and have played a central role in the unending academic haggling over just how old it is. In this brief survey we probe the depths of the myriad ways we attempt to set an age and develop "rock clocks". We discuss the tried and true and some of the cutting edge including subject matter, style, patination, radiocarbon, and the experimental, quantitative, x-ray fluorescence.
	Module 16 Native American Religion and Cosmology Throughout 90% of our earthly existence we lived as preliterate hunter-gatherers. Most rock art relates to these "primitive" societies and their religions combining an emphasis on animal ceremonialism, spiritual power, cosmic rejuvenation, and ritual adept curers & sorcerers. You will leave this class with at least a basic understanding of the deep and abiding relationship of Native peoples to the land and natural resources.
	Module 17 Preservation, Ethics and Conservation How do we preserve and protect rock art? Growing interest has fueled public demand for access and information. However, Native Americans identify rock art as sacred and ask that site locations be kept confidential. Others argue that increased awareness by responsible visitors actually protects these places. We discuss acceptable ethics and protocol at rock art sites and identify the proper conduct that shows respect for Native values.
	Module 18 Bighorn Sheep Symbolism in the Coso Range and Great Basin Images of bighorn sheep adorn the rocks of the Great Basin in both pecked and painted form. Mountain sheep in many forms and styles are depicted in solitary and in elaborate multi-image panels. Historic Numic groups inhabiting the Desert West featured these animals in their oral traditions, ritual activities and ceremonial traditions. What can we learn from a broad survey of the religion of these foraging peoples in an attempt to unravel the mysterious meanings of bighorn iconography?
	Module 19 Eastern California Prehistory and the Coso Region Chronology One of the most intensively studied areas of California and the Great Basin is the eastern Sierra and extreme southwestern corner of the Desert West. Prehistorians have attempted to anchor their discoveries by developing a regional cultural sequence timed to changes in the archaeological record. What can we learn about the past using the key time markers and characteristic changes in the prehistoric record of the stone age peoples of the Coso Region?
email questions to: Donald Austin amargosa@earthlink.net or Alan Garfinkel avram1952@yahoo.com

A Rock Art Petroglyph and Pictograph Training Company