Summit Hill Elementary
Art EDventures
Native American Studies
4th 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?
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?
Anasazi (Hopi)
Red Hand Prints
Grand Gulch, Utah
•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)
American
Man -Damage
SnakeAllIn
The Mouth
Panel
Who Created Rock Art?
•
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!
Why do you think we can find all
kinds of rock art in the Great Basin?
(Hopi)
Four Corners
History Left Behind
The 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 threestories 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.
Chacoa Canyon, New Mexico National Park
Is this a petroglyph or pictograph?
Why?
•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.)
We can’t ask the ancient Native Americans why they
drew the things they did. But the evidence is very strong:
What do you think?
Is this a just a coincidence?
•
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
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!
What symbols do you see? What stories might they tell?
(Hit enter)
Flamed
Box Crab
Right
Whale
Big Basin Petroglyph (Arizona)
Red
Branching
Sponge
Art EDventures Sample
Think- Simple Shapes and Forms
Project Art EDventures
•
Find a pre-wired flat rock suitable
for painting.
•
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Sign your art and “Draw the
Paw” on the back of your rock so
others know it is a PTA Art
EDventures creation.
On the non signed side-paint a
design, a person or idea on your
rock.
•
Take it home and enjoy!
•
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.
Supply List
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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. Ties
SS4H1 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
Art EDventures
Art EDventures
Made possible with your donations to S.H.E.’s PTA
Made 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!
Big Horn Sheep
Rock Art
Kokopeli Symbol
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!
Big Horn Sheep
Rock Art
Kokopeli Symbol