"From material culture, we can recognise the degree of technology and pattern of housing, but through rock art we discover the soul of the people."
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"...symbols such as rock art images are most likely to be meaningful when examined within the contexts of time, place, culture and society and with the knowledge that symbolism is part of information exchange, communication systems and acts to express and reinforce social identities." (Cole 1990, p37)
Thus, it is difficult to truly interpret rock art out of cultural context. The meanings of designs may change, depending on the surrounding social and pictorial context.
The ROCK ART of tribes from all over the world has been extensively examined in an attempt to learn more about the specific culture, time or location. Interpretation of this rock art involves making associations between the art and the particular culture. It is then desirable to discover the importance that the rock art held in the cultural context - to discover its function and meaning.
Rock Art is believed to be mnemonic, acting as a memory device, though it is also believed to be an important communication tool (picture writing); as well as a device to record events, and honour the spiritual world. Some art is accidentally produced ( testing a new tool, sharpening a tool or simply filling in time ), while other rock art served a more practical purpose, such as warning signs, directions, registering a count or decorating an area. These various uses must be considered carefully when attempting the study of rock art. |
The Rock Art of the Anasazi can be divided into two main groups, 'PICTOGRAPHS', meaning painting directly onto the rock surface, and 'PETROGLYPHS', which describe designs that have been embodied into the surface of the rock by methods other than painting. The Mesa Verde contains examples of both of these types of rock art, although there is a greater frequency of petroglyphs, simply because of the durability of this type of artwork. Specific techniques and materials, locations, purposes and meanings of the symbols uses will be discussed in the following sections. |
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