ESRARA

SELECTED BOOKS

General

The following refences are overviews of Native American rock art in eastern United States , but some are also continental in their coverage. Annotations follow each reference. Highlighted titles can be purchased on-line.

Faulkner, Charles H., editor

1996 Rock Art of the Eastern Woodlands. American Rock Art Research Association Occasional Paper, No. 2, San Miguel, California.

This edited volume presents the proceedings from the first ESRARA Conference held at Natural Bridge State Park, Kentucky, April 10, 1993. The volume offers contemporary perspectives from 12 scholars working in the Eastern U.S. This timely volume is relatively inexpensive and easily obtained by writing the Deer Valley Rock Art Center, P. O. Box 41998, Phoenix AZ 85080-1998.

Grant, Campbell

1992 Rock Art of the American Indian. Vistabooks, Dillon, Colorado. ISBN: 0-89646-084-3

Rock art of the American Indian, remains a true classic in the study of prehistoric rock art in the eastern United States, and so this facsimile of the original 1967 printing retains an important role in the literature. Grant's work is a great place to start and to return. This book can be found in almost any library. Copies also may be ordered directly from the publisher: Box 29D/Blue River Rt., Dillon, CO 80435.

Mallery, Garrick

1886 Pictographs of North American Indians - A Preliminary Paper, In The Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 1882-'83, pp. 13-254, edited by J. W. Powell, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

This early study is fascinating in its presentation of "thick description." Mallery provides excellent commentary and analogy with other media that exhibit pictorial content. Many of his interpretations are still relevant to current theoretical discussion. In addition, you will find information about rock art sites that were not repeated in his later report, Picture-writing of the American Indians.

1972 Picture-writing of the American Indians. Vol 1., of 2 Dover Publications, Inc., New York. First published in 1893, "Picture-Writing of the American Indians," Tenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1888-'89, by J. W. Powell, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. ISBN : 0-486-22842-6

1972 Picture-writing of the American Indians. Vol 2., of 2 Dover Publications, Inc., New York. First published in 1893, "Picture-Writing of the American Indians," Tenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1888-'89, by J. W. Powell, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. ISBN: 0-486-22843-6

These two volumes are easily obtained, and are a standard reference set to scholars interested in rock of eastern North America and beyond. They also contain a wealth of ethnographic information on the significance of art. The organization of the text makes it easy to locate areas by state. It is well worth your review.

Swauger, James L.

1992 Native American Rock Art in the Eastern United States. Pennsylvania Archaeologist, 62(1):79-81.

For the eastern United States, Swauger's overview is contemporary and thorough. His summary reviews the history of research and provides an extensive bibliography.

Wellmann, Klaus F.

1979 A Survey of North American Indian Rock Art. Akademische Druck - u. Verlansanstalt, Graz - Austria. ISBN 3-201-01096-0

Wellmann's work is probably the single best place to begin a study of rock art in the Eastern Woodlands. The illustrations are seldom matched even by today's standards, and the range of site coverage is astounding. The bibliography is a wonderful guide to the literature, particularly on the earliest accounts. Wellmann's keen observation and depth of perception will stimulate thought for time to come. Unfortunately, this monumental work is a rare book, and can be somewhat difficult to obtain. However, you still may be able to get a copy through interlibrary loan.

Regional

The following books will be useful to anyone seeking more detailed information about rock art within a particular geographic area of the eastern United States. While not a complete list, the following books are either in print or relatively easy to obtain.

Birmingham, Robert A. and William Green

1987 Wisconsin Rock Art. Wisconsin Archaeologist 68(4). ISSN 0043-6364

This entire volume of the Wisconsin Archaeologist is devoted to rock art research. Eight contributers discuss the location, age, cultural affiliation, and function of rock art sites in the state.

Coy, Fred E., Jr., Thomas C. Fuller, Larry G. Meadows, and James L. Swauger

1997 Rock Art of Kentucky. University Press of Kentucky, Lexington. ISBN 0-8131-1986-3

Rock Art of Kentucky is the first comprehensive documentation of Native American rock art in the state. The book features brief site reports of 70 sites, complete with 173 illustrations, summary data, and disscussion. Rock art sites found in 22 of Kentucky's 120 counties. These sites span a period of more than three thousand years. Common designs include bird and mammal tracks, as well as human footprints. Less common are human figures, quadrupeds, reptiles, fish, insects, and geometric designs. The book will appeal to anyone interested in prehistoric rock art of the eastern United States.

Diaz-Granados, Carol and James R. Duncan

2000 The Petroglyphs and Pictographs of Missouri. University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa. ISBN 0-8173-0988-8

This comprehensive guide documents the rich array of Native American rock art in Missouri. Discussion draws on archaeology and ethnography to interpret the age and cultural significance of the art. Of particular interest is a thoughtful analysis of motifs from Mississippi River Valley sites and their relationship to Cahokia. The authors establish a model for understanding prehistoric ritual activities and population movement in the Southeast.

Available from University of Alabama Press , phone: 1-800-621-8476

Faulkner, Charles H., ed.

1986 The Prehistoric Native American Art of Mud Glyph Cave. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville. ISBN 0-87049-505-4

This copiously illustrated volume chronicles the the study of the first cave art discovered in the eastern United States. Charcoal samples suggest that the cave was entered as early as AD 500, but the most intensive visits were occurred some 800 years ago. Archaeologists believe the mud glyphs were drawn by the ancestors of the Cherokee or Creek. The contributors analyze the mud glyphs and compare the site with the prehistoric use of other caves and rock art sites in the Southeast. This book is of great interest to scientists, cavers, and artists alike.

Henson, Bart and John Martz

1979 Alabama's Aboriginal Rock Art. Alabama Historical Commission, Montgomery.

This book provides short desriptions, photographs, and sketches of 18 sites in northern Alabama and interprets their age, cultural affiliation, and possible significance. Most of the art is found in proximity to the Tennessee River valley. Many of the motifs are characteristic of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex (circa AD 1000-1300). This classic study is essential to anyone interested in southeastern Native American rock art. Copies available from University of Alabama Museums, Moundville Archaeological Park (Gift Shop), 13075 Moundville Archaeological Park, AL 35474.

Swauger, James L.

1984 Petroglyphs of Ohio. Ohio University Press, Athens. ISBN 0-8214-0678-7

Petroglyphs of Ohio provides a very complete description of 60 sites, 34 of which are Native American (circa AD 900 -1650). Another six are natural curiosities or of uncertain origin. In addition, the monograph will also appeal to historical interests in both the production of folk art and the rendering of pitch and lye by early American settlers. Book format consists of brief site reports, complete with 44 maps and 103 figures (59 photographs, 44 drawings). Reports are followed by summary data, discussion, and a comprehensive bibliography. The book is essential to anyone with an avid interest in the antiquities of Ohio.