Summit Hill ElementaryArt EDventures

Native American Studies4th Grade

Petroglyphs & Pictographs

Brought to you by S.H.E. PTA

PLEASE NOTE: This presentation is to be used for educational purposes only. Do not reproduce.

What is a Petroglyph?•Petroglyphs are designs scratched or carved into rocks. They are also known by the term rock art.

•Amazingly, petroglyphs appear all over the world. Luckily, we have rock art in almost every state in the U.S. as well—even in Hawaii!

The U.S. petroglyphs are ancient pieces of art created by the “First Nations.” They are most often found on canyon walls, rock shelters and boulders where the art has been protected for a thousand years or more.

•Rock art is more than meaningless doodles -it provides clues to the sacred as well as everyday culture of Native Americans such as the Anasazi (Hopi) Indians.

This petroglyph turtle is carved into lava rock near Puako, Hawaii

What is a Pictograph?•Pictographs are similar to Petroglyphs only the art is painted instead of scratched or carved into rock. They are also commonly called “rock art.”

•Pictographs however, are much more fragile than petroglyphs. Those that remain are also found protected in caves, ledges and overhangs.

•What do you think Native American used for paint a thousand years ago?

•They used things like powdered minerals (such as hematite) for color; a binding agent like blood, spit, plant juices or eggs to make it stick and water or urine to make it liquid.

•With this recipe– it is amazing that any pictographs exist today! (hit enter)

What is a Pictograph?

Anasazi (Hopi)Red Hand Prints

Grand Gulch, Utah

Snake In The Mouth Panel

Who Created Rock Art?

Four Corners

(Hopi)

• Four major southwestern Native American groups, the Fremont, Anasazi (Hopi), Hohokam and Mogollon were the first to create rock art. (hit enter)

• These groups lived in the Great Basin-a large, arid region in the Southwest that has no outlet to the sea. It extends into both the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. (hit enter)

• Today, this area is part of the four corners region of the U.S. It’s often called dead, barren and desolate but it’s also full of wonders like rock art!

• The Navajos and Apaches began began their rock-art traditions at a later time.

Why do you think we can find all kinds of rock art in the Great Basin?

History Left BehindThe Hopi lived in the portion of the Great Basin now called Arizona.

At first, the Hopi villages, or peublos, were located in the Big Basin valley but they eventually moved to mesa tops, or small flat top hills, for protection against Spanish invaders.

Their houses were built of adobe- stones covered in wet mud found within their environment. Adobe homes were three-stories high and connected by ladders.

A lot of what we know of the Hopi culture today, comes from things they left behind like their peublo ruins and rock art. 

Why Rock Art?• People who study rock art don’t always know

why it was made! The Great Basin First Americans had no written language so we can’t be sure about their exact meanings.

• Archeologists believe that rock art was used to communicate, tell stories, mark trails, track seasons, record religious ceremonies or ensure successful hunts and bountiful crops.

• For example, the Kokopelli petroglyph is found in many rock art sites. Things found around pueblo ruins tell us he is the Hopi God of communication and regarded as the universal symbol of fertility for all life; such as crops or animals or things like hopes, dreams and love.

• The Hopi were miraculously able to raise food, like corn, beans and squash in the dry desert climate. They believed it was the Kokopelli who soothed the earth with his flute to help them grow these crops in such an arid place. (hit enter)

Kokopelli Tsankawi Bandelier National

Monument New Mexico

Can you find the Kokopelli?

Astronomical!•On the underside of a shelf in Chaco Canyon National Park in New Mexico, there is rock art containing three symbols: a large star, a crescent moon, and a handprint. 

•On a ledge below are concentric circles, about a foot in diameter, with huge red flames trailing to the right. (hit enter)

•Archaeologists believe the Anasazi (Hopi) recorded a supernova with this panel. •If you happen to be in the canyon on July 4th, 1054,  a bright star would have appeared in the sky for 23 straight days.  It would have been seen in the brightest desert afternoon as well as nighttime. 

•Scientists have confirmed that a giant star bigger than the sun blew up (called a super nova) and the debris turned into the Crab Nebula (all the remaining gas and particles.) 

 Chacoa Canyon, New Mexico National Park

Is this a petroglyph or pictograph? Why?

We can’t ask the ancient Native Americans why they drew the things they did. But the evidence is very strong:

• Today, if you were in Chaco Canyon stargazing in July on the 18.6 year celestial cycle and you:

• -Positioned a telescope on the circles under the shelf

• -Aligned it with the star

• -Waited until the moon positioned directly above the pointed finger of the red hand

• You would see the Crab Nebula in your telescope!

• Interestingly, both the Chinese and Japanese recorded the appearance of a very bright “Guest Star" around the time this rock art was thought to have been created! (hit enter)

Source: http://www.astronomy.pomona.edu/archeo/outside/chaco/nebula.html

What do you think? Is this a just a coincidence?

How Old Is Rock Art?• Rock art is really, really, really old! In the

Big Basin, some of it is 2,000 old (from A.D. 1 to A.D. 1500.)

• Archaeologists are able to date designs by examining subtle color variations and the various layers of the rock.

• In addition, rock art can be dated by comparing styles with the figures used on pottery or clay pipes found in Indian ruins like the Hopi’s pueblos.

• Dates can also be provided by looking at the subjects of the art and historic events. For example, Spaniards imported horses to the new world beginning in the 1500’s; therefore, rock art with horses would be from the 1500’s or later.

Fremont Warrior Image

Ram With Arrows

Read The Rock!

Right Whale

Red Branching Sponge

Flamed Box Crab

Big Basin Petroglyph (Arizona)

What symbols do you see? What stories might they tell? (Hit enter)

Art EDventures Sample

Now it’s your turn to

paint a pictograph

necklace using Big

Basin Native

American symbols.

Don’t worry we

bought paint. We

don’t have to make it!

Think- Simple Shapes and Forms

Prophecy Rock

Project Art EDventures• Find a pre-wired flat rock suitable for

painting.

• Sign your art and “Draw the Paw” on the back of your rock so others know it is a PTA Art EDventures creation.

• Now string some colorful beads on and tie to create a necklace or rock art keepsake.

• Think of something you want to communicate or choose a symbol like the Kokopelli from the rock art symbol sheets provided.

.

• On the non signed side-paint a design, a person or idea on your rock.

• Take it home and enjoy!

Supply List• Flat rocks (hooks and wire are pre-attached using epoxy or a strong glue. (Wire

can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes in large spools.) You will need one per child.

• Assorted beads/earthy colors (about 6 per child)

• Assorted colors of acrylic paint in earthy colors. A quarter size circle of paint in several colors for a table to share is fine.

• Fine Paint Brushes-one for each child (thick brushes will not work.)

• String-(yarn can be used but it is recommended you have the kids tape the ends first so the kids can easily thread it through their beads. One piece per child.

• Tape (enough for each table so the kids can tape the end of the yarn if you use it.)

• Paper plates for each table to paint on.

• Water containers for cleaning their brushes.

• Rock art symbol sheets from the portfolio.

• Sharpies for signing the rock (one per table)

G.P.S. TiesSS4H1 The student will describe how early Native American cultures developed in North America.

a. Locate where the American Indians settled with emphasis on Arctic (Inuit), Northwest (Kwakiutl), Plateau (Nez Perce), Southwest (Hopi), Plains (Pawnee), and Southeastern (Seminole).b. Describe how the American Indians used their environment to obtain food, clothing, and shelter.

SS4G2 The student will describe how physical systems affect human systems.

a. Explain why each of the native American groups (SS4H1a) occupied the areas they did, with emphasis on why some developed permanent villages and others did not.b. Describe how the early explorers (SS4H2a) adapted, or failed to adapt, to the various physical environments in which they traveled.c. Explain how the physical geography of each colony helped determine economic activities practiced therein.d. Explain how each force (American and British) attempted to use the physical geography of each battle site to its benefit (SS4H4c).e. Describe physical barriers that hindered and physical gateways that benefited territorial expansion from 1801 to 1861 (SS4H6a).

SS4G1 The student will be able to locate important physical and man-made features in the United States.

a. Locate major physical features of the United States; include the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Great Plains, Continental Divide, the Great Basin, Death Valley, Gulf of Mexico, St. Lawrence River, and the Great Lakes.b. Locate major man-made features; include New York City, NY; Boston, MA; Philadelphia, PA; and the Erie Canal

Dear Mom, Dad or Caretaker,

• I took an Art EDventure today and learned about Big Basin rock art. Do you know the difference between a petroglyph and a pictograph? I do-- just ask me! (Hint: painted or carved)

• I learned that there is rock art all over the world and all over the U.S. Amazingly, some of best examples can be found in the Great Basin (now known as the four corners area of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.) This desert region is full of Native American rock paintings and carvings from the First Nations.

• We learned about the Hopi Indians and how they lived in pueblo villages on top of mesas, were farmers in the desert and that they recorded events with their rock art.

• In fact, ask me about the coolest rock art event found in Chaco Canyon National Park. It’s astronomical!

• Be sure to check out my very own rock art necklace!

Art EDventuresMade possible with your donations to S.H.E.’s PTA

Art EDventuresMade possible with your donations to S.H.E.’s PTA

Dear Mom, Dad or Caretaker,

• I took an Art EDventure today and learned about Big Basin rock art. Do you know the difference between a petroglyph and a pictograph? I do-- just ask me! (Hint: painted or carved.)

• I learned that there is rock art all over the world and all over the U.S. Amazingly, some of best examples can be found in the Great Basin (now known as the four corners area of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.) This desert region is full of Native American rock paintings and carvings from the First Nations.

• We learned about the Hopi Indians and how they lived in pueblo villages on top of mesas, were farmers in the desert and that they recorded events with their rock art.

• In fact, ask me about the coolest rock art event found in Chaco Canyon National Park. It’s astronomical!

• Be sure to check out my very own rock art necklace!

Kokopeli SymbolBig Horn Sheep Rock Art

Kokopeli SymbolBig Horn Sheep Rock Art