Customer Reviews (2)

Not a lot to it, but what do you expect for the price?
The guide has a minimum of information on petroglyphs, and I'm not sure that there is much here that will really be useful in the field.It contains more of an overview of what petroglyphs are, and a VERY sketchy view of different categories (different cultures, different methods of making petroglyphs, etc.).I kept being reminded of something I might have been given as a handout in elementary school.

I have two criticisms, one is that I don't really see much information here that will be useful in the field.The other is that the guide is printed on medium-quality paper, and with no plasticizing or water-proofing at all.It will quickly disintegrate when taken into the field, unless you take strong measures to protect it from moisture, dirt, and rough handling.I just don't see much use for it, even at this very low price.

Excellent Quick Source
Elizabeth Welsh provides an instructive quick overview ofpetroglyphs and pictographs. Within the the 32 pages of text the bookprovides the bare fundamentals of recoginizing, appreciating andpreserving different forms of southwestern United States rock art. The wallet sized book (lighter than pair of sunglasses) is a must for the day hiker or amatuer acrhaeologist. ... Read more

Product Description
This book weaves together the stories of tiny elusive Spider Woman as she is mythologised by the Keresan Pueblo, Hopi and Navajo people. Each tribe sees this mythic figure differently, yet there is no need to depict her in a realistic form. Instead she is described in symbols that reflect her attributes. She is a metaphor for something small and invisible yet very powerful. She represents creativity, spirit, old age, and wisdom. The myths are those that were left in the petroglyphs and pictographs of the San Juan Basin, south-eastern Utah, and north-western New Mexico. Both the myths and the petroglyphs need to be understood from the perspective of the native people who made them. The petroglyphs refer to the myths and encapsulate definitions of the cosmos; they describe dreams, spirits and all the elements a person needed to survive. These are some of the many places where Spider Woman dwells. The petroglyphs and pictographs are a veil between the observer and other transcendental realms. They are a portal through which to enter the world of Spider Woman. ... Read more

Product Description
This recently revised and updated book presents a summary of the information available on petroglyphs, how to view them, where to find them, and tips for taking photographs. With its many illustrations and photos, Petroglyphs of Hawaiçi provides petroglyph buffs with extensive information and a complete bibliography of the sources used in the research. New maps of the Island of Hawaii show the location of the vast petroglyph fields there, with detailed instructions on how to reach the most accessible sites. Although the largest number of petroglyphs are found on the island of Hawaii, petroglyphs can be found on all the Hawaiian Islands. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Questions and some answers
This book provides a varied repository of information about the petroglyphs that can be seen on the island of Hawaii. Topics covered include: location, documentation, theories of who made them, when, and what they mean, and how to take rubbings. The book is illustrated with maps, reproductions of petroglyphs, and a few photographs.

For the most part, McBride doesn't definitively settle any questions about the mysteries of the petroglyphs.Instead, he carefully lays out the competing theories and leaves it up for the reader to decide which of these is more likely (although he does express some bias in some instances).One interesting theory that McBride attributes to Dr. Kenneth Emory is that when both simple and complex forms of a petroglyph shape are found, the simple one is presumably older.If this is so, it suggests that the petroglyph carving may be more likely to be art than a form of writing, since in ancient writing systems, symbols tend to become simpler and less concretely representational with time.The book can make an interesting record of a trip to see the petroglyphs, and it has some potential pointers for more information, but it is not likely to answer all the questions you might have about the petroglyphs.

Petroglyphs of Hawaii
This is a good introduction to the subject in Hawaii.Easy reading and informative.Not a good read for rabid conservationists.In addition I would recommend the Hawaiian Petroglyphs by Cox...

Poor, promotes destruction of rock art
Very simple intro to Hawaiian rock art. Perhaps best suited for grade school level. Inadvertently promotes destruction of rock art by "rubbings". A better book would be Cox & Stasack's "Petroglyphs of Hawaii", available from the Bishop Museum Press. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Educational, fun and easy to read.
Na Ki`i Pohaku is the result of detailed research of the history and significance of Hawaiian petroglyphs dating from the time of the first arrival of the Polynesian people in Hawai`i. It explains the only "written" recording of Hawaiian history in a clear and concise format. Profusely illustrated with examples of Hawaiian petroglyphs from all the islands in the Hawaiian archipelago and dispels many misconceptions about the petroglyphs, and why and where they were etched in stone. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Scholarly Triumph!
This is an amazing book. And Julie Francis and Lawrence Loendorf are to be commended for crafting such a beautiful, insightful, fascinating publication. ANCIENT VISIONS showcases the petroglyphs and pictographs (rock art) found in Wyoming and southern Montana. It's packed full of illustrations, photos, maps, graphs, and charts that will, all by themselves, surely capture the imagination of all who are interested in rock art in general and Native American history specifically.

Although the tone is a bit academic, it's still quite accessible and illuminates a cultural and regional history that seems to get scant attention compared to that of the American Southwest. Long inhabited and visited by peoples of the Great Plains, Plateau, and Great Basin cultures, the Wind River and Big Horn basins in Wyoming possess a unique and glorious treasure trove of rock art that stretches back to the PaleoIndian period. The visionary, psychedelic brilliance of the Dinwoody Tradition is a highlight. The Shield-Bearing Warriors and V-Shouldered Anthropomorphs are also presented in depth. There is so much here and it's presented in such a flowing yet scholarly manner ... it will undoubtedly inspire many readers to trek to Wyoming to see these priceless works themselves.

Very informative and accurate
This is a wonderful book with fantastic pictures of the rock art in the Wind River and Bighorn mountains of WY.I have been to Legend Rock and many of the rock art 'drawings' are included in the book.I have also seen a few of the Dinwoody rock art, which are also included. This is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in ancient petroglyphs, the history of the Wind Rivers and Bighorns or just enjoys seeing some of the unique aspects of wonderful Wyoming.

Five Stars All The Way
This text is a great academic source for the serious study (as opposed to 'those Indians did some nice art') of petroglyphs and pictographs in general, and more specifically for the key sites in Wyoming and near Billings.The writing is clear, concise and precise.The sources cited are all solid and the bibliography is valuable.The printing is excellent and the cover is very appealing to view.It is the best book on the subject.I am happy someone wrote it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent reference
This is an excellent reference to many well-known rock art sites in Utah. My only negative comment is that most of the pictures are in B&W, and in many pics, the rock art is outlined in chalk (a no-no today). Other thanthat "complaint," it's a good general reference, although thetext is a bit "dry." This book, coupled with Polly Schaafsma's,are invaluable guides to rock art sites for the general public. ... Read more

Product Description
Katherine Wells's obsession with petroglyphs (images pecked on stone) began in the 1960s. Three decades later, after careers as a teacher, a businessperson, and an artist in Southern California, Wells and Lloyd Dennis, her partner, purchased almost two hundred acres near Española in northern New Mexico. The large boulders on the property contained many examples of rock art from previous Native inhabitants and the lure was overwhelming.

Wells describes the beginning of her new life and her exploration of the petroglyphs on her new land. Meeting New Mexico archaeologists and local rock art aficionados, and locating previously published information about petroglyphs and the prehistoric inhabitants of the Española area, Wells learned to identify the time periods when the glyphs were made and to understand many of the motifs found among the more than six thousand petroglyphs on the site.

In addition to discovering all she could about her surroundings, Wells worked with Dennis to design and construct three buildings on their property, each constructed of straw bales. Each of their experiences introduced these transplanted New Mexicans to the oft-cited definition of mañana: "not today." However, the beauty of their adopted homeland made the trials and struggles they encountered pale in comparison. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

One woman's relevant and timely story
Some warriors use bullets as weaponry, Katherine Wells, author of Life on the Rocks, uses words to protect her community, and the resources she loves. This memoir is compelling, not simply due to the personal nature of the story, but for its merit depicting how she fought to preserve the Rock Art located in an expansive area of Northern New Mexico. In addition to providing insight into this somewhat eclectic field of archeology that researches petroglyphs pecked into monolithic boulders by ancient people, Wells shares details of stressful periods in her relationship with her partner when they decided to build a house and live in rural New Mexico. The ups and downs of the process as this couple builds their dream house out of straw bales and mud is told, but there is also the thread of environmental activism that adds tension and drama to this story. There is social and political commentary woven amidst the personal narrative. We learn of the Vecinos del Rio, a community action group she helped to build to help her adopted community on the Rio Grande river.

Katherine Wells has made certain that at least the Rock Art on 156.01 acres of Mesa Prieta is preserved for our children's children. By so doing, she is also preserving the culture and hope for the current generation of children in the region surrounding Espanola, New Mexico. She helped establish school curriculum for children to learn about the importance of this Rock Art resource and made it available for students to study. She helps youth learn skills in an internship program where they learn how to identify and record these glyphs in rock.

Her story chronicles this period of her life when she was able to make her dreams reality.
A mixed media artist, Wells includes photos of some of her sculptures created out of spent rifle shells. The book is a visual treat, from her drawings of Rock Art examples to the photos of her straw bale house and art work. She is no doubt a controversial person. Controversy often follows women who speak their truth. She is an Anglo voice speaking for preserving cultural heritage not her own. She is motivated from a spiritual place and freely admits a Jungian association.

The extraordinary passion of the author and the enormous amount of effort she exerted to accomplish these dreams does take its toll she tells us. This is a story of community building, self-exploration, a love story with the ancients and natural world.
One passage is eerily prophetic "For all our technological prowess, people as a whole lack the will the foresight, the wisdom to address the slow motion environmental catastrophe of our own making that is under way."

For a moment this weekend, I curled up with this well-written book and escaped the news of the economic ruin for the people living along the Gulf coast and the destruction of wildlife and habitat, as our nation contends with the worst ecological disaster in my life time.
Like Katherine Wells found when dealing with government agencies like the Bureau of Reclamation in New Mexico, Isee the same trends emerge that led to this disaster in the Gulf of Mexico: poor oversight, general corruption and apathy towards enforcing laws already in place to regulate the oil industry. Overall, reading this book was an uplifting experience and a guidepost for us all for setting our priorities in these times in which we live.

The wonder of petroglyphs . . . and the struggle to preserve them
In 1995, author Katherine Wells and her partner Lloyd Dennis, transplanted Californians, bought 188 acres on the Mesa Prieta in northern New Mexico.The chief attraction of the property was that it contained about 6,000 petroglyphs or carved images on the countless stone faces and boulders on the property.Wells dedicated herself to the petroglyphs - getting them catalogued, sharing knowledge of them, inviting nearby Pueblo Indians to visit them, and fighting to protect them from nearby gravel mining, quarrying, and trucking.LIFE ON THE ROCKS is Wells' story of her life on Mesa Prieta from 1992 to about 2001.

I am rather ambivalent about the book.Those parts that deal with the petroglyphs themselves are the best.Mesa Prieta is unusual in that it has so many petroglyphs from distinctly different time periods - Archaic (from before the Christian era), Pueblo IV (1300-1600 A.D.), and Historic (after the arrival of the Spanish).But what is special is that many of the petroglyphs (of which about two dozen are reproduced in the book via drawings by Wells) are among the most aesthetically pleasing that I have seen; they are more fluid and artistic than is usual, at least as drawn by Wells.Also of value to me were the parts of the book dealing with the efforts of Wells and local activists to fight the depradations of mining and quarrying and the bureaucratic ineptitude and inertia of various governmental agencies, both state and federal.

Less interesting to me were the accounts of Wells and Dennis struggling to make a home and build a series of straw-bale structures atop Mesa Prieta.And even less interesting were those parts of the book that told of very personal trials and tribulations, although I acknowledge that it would have been difficult to keep at least several of those matters out of the book.A more idiosyncratic reservation of mine is that Wells is of a more spiritual bent than I, with New Age and Jungian propensities that I don't share.

Nonetheless, I am glad I read LIFE ON THE ROCKS, and if you also are interested in Native "rock art" (Wells acknowledges the somewhat uneasy status of the term), I suspect you too will find it worth reading.The book definitely is not academic in nature (probably a plus) and the writing is better than average.3-1/2 stars.

Rock Life, Rock Art
In 1992, Southern California artist and teacher, Katherine Wells, and her partner, Lloyd Dennis, began looking for a retirement property in northern New Mexico. Their quest to find the perfect lot ended when they visited a 188-acre parcel on Mesa Prieta, near Espanola. The Rio Grande meandered by in the valley. The Sangre de Cristos dominated the eastern sky. And the basalt outcrops and talus of the mesa were covered with petroglyphs dating from the Archaic, Pueblo IV (aka, Ancestral Puebloan or Anasazi), and Historic eras. Wells, who'd been intrigued by "rock art" for thirty years, had found her heartland.

Wells' memoir, Life on the Rocks, reads like a three-act play. Act One provides background, details the search for a place to call home, and describes the Wells/Dennis adjustment to living in close quarters (a 30-foot Silver Streak travel trailer parked on the property) with an assortment of adopted stray dogs. Think outdoor composting toilet (an upgrade from their original open-pit latrine), spit baths, and freezing temperatures. Add to the mix the fact that Wells and Dennis had only known each other for a year when they embarked on this adventure. You get the picture. Not a recipe for an idyllic existence.

Act Two focuses on the building of straw-bale structures--Wells' studio and small house, Dennis' hogan, and a large main house, the latter constructed while Dennis battled prostate cancer. Act Three follows Wells' burgeoning social activism. Her desire to record and protect the petroglyphs for posterity evolves (or devolves) quickly into a crusade to foil a wealthy businessman bent on mining the mesa--with or without the proper clearance--and the government agencies that granted him mining permits. Eventually, Wells' struggles lead to confrontations at the highest levels of state government. They also lead to successes, small and large. Mining on the mesa stops, at least for a time. The petroglyphs are recorded. And Wells donates much of her property and establishes a foundation to protect the petroglyphs in perpetuity.

The stressful existence exposed cracks in the players' relationship. Though mesa life was Wells' heartland, it was not Dennis'. Yet, they stuck together, accommodating each other's needs well enough. Dennis, once the initial structures were built, would take long sailing trips in the Pacific. Somehow they made it work.

Wells interleaves the separate but related Mesa dramas with interesting digressions into her art forms. For me, however, the most appealing aspects of the memoir are her petroglyph drawings--mysterious, quirky, detailed, and hauntingly beautiful. They illustrate the importance of the site and why Wells was determined to preserve them. And they made me want to be first in line for a guided tour.

by Susan Cummins Miller
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

A Dream Fulfilled
Artist Katherine Wells needed a steady hand to pen the exquisite stippled drawings of petroglyphs that illustrate her memoir, Life on the Rocks. Likewise, Wells needed a steady hand to keep her life on an even keel when she left California with a new lover to buy land on a mesa in New Mexico. After discovering thousands of rock art images on the boulder-strewn property, her life's purpose became clear. She built an earth-friendly home out of straw bales, battled a strip-miner, became a community activist. There is frustration, uncertainty and tragedy in these pages, but also humor--thenarrative is peppered with anecdotes about weird neighbors, construction delays and lovable stray dogs. Life on the Rocks is ultimately about an independent woman's dream fulfilled--not by chance, but by hard work. Like the petroglyphs that are at the heart of the story, this memoir exudes energy, mystery and joy.

Wise Woman
This tale of building a house on the edge of a wilderness while working to save ancient rock art fulfills the desire readers have to experience depth in narrative. The author speaks with a wise and experienced tone. She lived through ups and downs concerning a house going up, a partner who generally speaking was a little loony, and the Northern New Mexico attitude toward work, which is to avoid it at all costs.
This small, beautifully designed book, with images by the author, is a great "read."It will take you out of ordinary life into a life on the rocks, sacred rocks. ... Read more

Product Description
For more than 2000 years, Puebloan peoples of New Mexico's Rio Grande Valley and their ancesters inscribed symbols and designs on the black volcanic rock of Albuquerque's West Mesa escarpment. This landscape preserves hundreds of prehistoric Puebloan petroglyphs amid a rugged volcanic landscape. Photos by Tom Bean. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice to have, but very incomplete
This is a very thin, very slim, fifteen-page book about Petroglyph National Monument which is just outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico.The book contains several nice photos of various Anasazi and even Spanish petrogylphs, of the rolling hills of the West Mesa, and of the craggy rocks around the area's long-extinct volcanoes.
It's also got some very interesting information in it--for instance, the monument contains over fifteen THOUSAND petroglyphs, rare butterflies live on top of the highest volcano, and a representative of a nearby housing development is partly (and unbelievably) in charge of making sure the monument's land isn't exploited.(I'm sure he would never DREAM of putting houses there.)
The book also has good information on the area's plants and animals, its geology, and the relationships between the Native Americans and the early Spanish.
But the book isn't perfect.I picked it up specifically for information on the monument's most noticeable features--its volcanoes--and found out almost nothing.Only one of the several volcanoes is mentioned by name.There are no real photos of the volcanoes, with the exception of one close-up look at Vulcan Volcano's craggy side.There's not a single mention of the legendary 1947 prank in which college kids filled one of the volcanoes with old tires, set the tires on fire, and caused half of Albuquerque to jump in their cars and leave town out of fear of a volcanic eruption.There's nothing about the monument's trails, and the map on its back cover is incredibly insufficient.
I'm glad this book exists.I am.There's not enough written for the average non-anthropologist/non-geologist on the area, and this book is easy to read and informative.But it's not complete.Get it though, study up on the Internet, get a copy of the detailed USGS map for Petroglyph National Monument, and then get out there and explore it yourself.If you live near or in Albuquerque, it couldn't be closer, and the odds are you've never been there.
Oh, and a side note: Vulcan Volcano, the monument's highest volcano, has been chosen as the official start of the Albuquerque Urban Trail, an approximately two-hundred-mile-long turquoise-blazed trail that will start at Vulcan Volcano, wind north and south all over Albuquerque's city streets--from Old Town to the Rio Grande to downtown to the university area to old Route 66--and then end up on top of Sandia Peak overlooking the city.It's going to be awesome, and will feature not only the volcanoes but large portions of both sides of this fascinating monument. ... Read more

Product Description
Gabriola Island (one of the Gulf Islands on the west coast) ishome to numerous, important ancient native rock carvings. In Gabriola:Petroglyph Island, Mary and Ted Bentley examine the sacred spiritualimages of these Northwest Coast native artforms. The authors'thoughtful approach stems from their deep commitment to thepreservation of petroglyph sites and to the respectful study of theaboriginal culture which produced these enigmatic and magicalcarvings. This completely revised edition includes an examination ofmany newly discovered petroglyphs and new photographs and rubbings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fabulous discussion and display of Hawaiian petroglyphs
Although I've seen a few petroglyphs up Moanalua Valley on O'ahu, and I've looked for them (unsuccessfully) along the Laniakea shoreline, nothing really prepared me for visiting the Puakõ Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve on the Big Island.

Amazing.Incredible.Inspiring.And depressing... a culture devastated by contact with the West (Before the Horror: The Population of Hawaii on the Eve of Western Contact.

Hawaiian Petroglyphs does not contain many photographs.In fact, I was surprised after Puakõ at how my photographs really didn't capture the majesty of what I was seeing.But in this book, many hundreds of petroglyphs are sketched out, making them more distinct than a photograph could.

In addition to the many petroglyphs highlighted, the authors (J. H. Cox and E. Stasack) discuss the stories, as far as can be told, behind the petroglyphs.Except for a limited number of written records (e.g., Hawaiian Antiquities by David Malo), the meanings behind most of the petroglyphs will remain speculative.Even the process of creating these petroglyphs must be hypothesized, since specific tools were not left at these sites.

There are a couple of mysteries that I am interested in.First is the paucity of whales depicted in any petroglyphs, although there is mention of "a well-drawn whale" at Olowalu, Maui (p. 19).For such a huge animal, I would have expected more petroglyphs dedicated to this animal.However, an important and common 'aumakua was the shark, and it is also absent.

Second (and by no means are these the only two mysteries), the authors note "Petroglyphs made after the 1800's could very well have been made with iron tools. ...Stone was the common material for cutting, hammering, and rubbing" (p. 38).However, "It is puzzling that with thousands of petroglyphs at many sites on all Hawaiian Islands so few appropriate implements are found for making them" (p. 38).My amateur hypothesis?There are records of iron being washed up on the islands, presumably originally attached to wood from ships lost at sea (Shoal of Time: A History of the Hawaiian Islands).What if these few bits of iron, recognized as something extraordinary, were used by specialists to make these petroglyphs?A nail, for example, easily could be attached to a cord, and kept with the carver.The precious nature of this tool would insure that it would not be left at any petroglyph carving site.Then, when iron nails became freely available, in addition to the savage depopulation of the Hawaiian people, the lore and tradition of these early carvers was also lost.

Well, that's my hypothesis, anyway!

Back to the book.Love the petroglyphs of the honu (p. 19, 63, 64), the surfer (p. 63), the figure with the headcrest (p. 18, 98), the paddle-men (p. 65, 79), and the figure of the man throwing a net (?) on page 30 (left center box).

I'm always reading multiple books at the same time.As it turns out, I came across this quote today in a science-fiction novel by Alastair Reynolds (Revelation Space):

"Sylveste steepled his fingers.'It's my suspicion - no; not a suspicion, my conclusion - that the Amarantin eventually progressed to the point where they could achieve space travel.'

'From what I gathered on the surface,' Sajaki said, 'there's very little in the fossil record to substantiate that.'

'But there wouldn't be, would there?Technological artefacts [sic] are inherently less durable than more primitive items.Pottery endures.Microcircuits crumble to dust.'" (p. 375).

Thank goodness for the durability of Hawaiian petroglyphs...

Superb Introduction to the subject
A great combination of scholarship and educated speculation.The authors approach the formations in multiple ways -- from describing the qualities of the rocks on which the petroglyphs are drawn, to the similarities of technique and composition of groupings across the islands. They provide anin-depth analysis of the grouping at Puuloa, which involved burying of theumbilical stump to insure long life for the newborn child.Thecomprehensive listing of petroglyph sites on all the Hawaiian islands isinvaluable for those of us who would like to search out multiple sites. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

Product Description
A young girl living in the foothills of the Sierra Madre determines to locate the cave which she believes contains a carving made by Indians. ... Read more

Product Description
The Author has provided explicit driving(and hiking) directions to forty-seven of the best sites in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Baja Mexico,Utah,Calforinia and Texas. In most cases the motorist can follow the site maps and drive to within a few feet of the rock art. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is an enticing introduction to this unique art form, its range, diversity and location as well as a record of many sites that are endangered or damaged or have recently been destroyed. As destruction by both vandals and the bulldozer continues, it is the author's hope that this book will bring greater public awareness to a fragile and irreplaceable heritage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Petroglyphs : Sabra Moore
It is a good book to read and enjoy. To me Sabra Moore's book, in which texts and drawings mingle harmoniously, has given a well-informed and concise overview of the North American rock art. In addition, I think that having the viewpoint from an artist's eye is useful to understand beyond the intellect the possible meanings and purpose of this "ancient language/sacred art" of the petroglyphs. Perhaps, after reading this text-art book, one can visit rock art sites again in a different way, not just seeing the carved boulders any more, but looking at and perusing them instead...

Sabra Moore - Petroglyphs
There is an exciting immediacy, an unaffected directness and a sense of wonderment in Moore's
delicately illustrated book. She carries the reader with her on a journey through petroglyph sites across America, a journey that traverses geography, art, time and the heart. With great humility Moore explores a form of analytical examination outside the strictures of the academic mold. The result is a narrative both poetic and informative, that expands the vision, and kindles one's desire to travel with Moore. ... Read more

Product Description
This book not only documents the wealth of petroglyphs to be found in Los Alamos, but its authors provided sufficient documentation to have White Rock Canyon of the Rio Grande entered in the National Register of Historic Places. ... Read more