Sponsored by: Archaeological Institute of America
Traditional forager peoples across the globe made rock art for thousands of years prior to colonization by Europeans. Most of the traditional knowledge concerning the images was lost when these cultures were displaced, absorbed, or wiped out. Research over the last few decades has shown remarkable global similarities in both traditional worldviews and the use of painted and carved images on rock surfaces to represent and convey very complex ideas and information. This lecture combines vivid photographs of rock art, people, animals, and exotic landscapes with insights gained over twenty years of researching and documenting rock art in western North America, and ten field seasons documenting rock art and associated traditional knowledge with the Wardaman people of northern Australia.