Rock Art by Stewart M. Green

Author:Stewart M. Green [Green, Stewart M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Falcon Guides
Published: 2018-07-19T16:00:00+00:00

A large rattlesnake petroglyph uncoils on a boulder below Molen Reef at San Rafael Swell in Utah.

Do Not Physically Enhance Rock Art

Besides the look-but-do-not-touch rule, it is important that visitors should never physically enhance rock art. Sometimes people may feel the need to enhance a petroglyph so that it shows up better in a photograph, but it is important to never highlight or change rock art. Enhancement speeds up the natural deterioration of already fragile panels and often alters the shapes, forms, and designs of rock art. Also consider that the addition of modern substances disrespects not only the rock art but also the ancient artist.

Do not trace images with sticks, stones, chalk, or other objects. In the past, visitors would either outline petroglyphs, especially faint ones, with chalk to make the images stand out for photography, but this practice damages the rock art. This is especially true at sites that are protected from weathering and rain.

Besides chalk, other forms of physical enhancement include making “frames” around rock art images; applying various liquids like water, gasoline, urine, and soda to brighten the image; using dusting or metallic powder; and repecking and repainting rock art images.

Liquids applied to rock art, especially pictographs, can damage the image. Liquids cause fading, damage prehistoric paint and make it run, stain the rock art panel, and lessen the likelihood that the paint and site can be accurately dated. Using liquids can also introduce chemicals and other harmful substances to the rock surface.

Do Not Rub, Trace, or Use Molds on Petroglyphs

Visitors to rock art sites sometimes feel the need to document interesting petroglyphs by making a stone rubbing of them. Rubbing is an accepted way for genealogists to document old gravestones, since a rubbing can sometimes record hidden surface information. Rubbing, however, damages the rock surface and a petroglyph by abrasion as well as leaving chemical residues from charcoal, wax, graphite, and ink behind. Rock art should never be documented by placing an alien material on the rock surface or by pressing hands, fingers, or tools directly on a rock art image. Any direct human contact creates the possibility of damage.

Do not make rubbings of petroglyphs by placing paper or cloth on the rock surface over a petroglyph and rubbing it hard with a pencil, charcoal, crayon, or wax to make a negative image. The rock surface may be weakened by vigorous rubbing, while continual rubbing by visitors erodes the image.

Don’t use plastic or plaster molds to create a cast of a rock art image, since molds can cause surface rock to spall off in small pieces, and bits of the mold remain on the rock even after the main mold is removed.

Do Not Make Fires

Do not build fires at rock art sites. Sometimes people will make a fire below a rock art panel, but the smoke blackens the rock surface, causes surface flaking from heat, and damages the rock art. Fires also burn fragile vegetation below and near rock art sites.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.