Home
  • Quick Facts
    • What is rock art?
    • Who made Arkansas rock art?
    • How are petroglyphs made?
    • How are pictographs made?
    • What is the difference between rock art and graffiti?
    • How old is Arkansas rock art?
    • Why did Native Americans make rock art?
    • What kinds of rock art images have been identified?
    • What are rock art styles?
    • What threatens to destroy rock art?
    • Where can I see rock art in Arkansas?
    • What can I do at a rock art site?
  • Interpretations
    • A Horse-and-Rider Pictograph
    • Fish-trap and Paddlefish
    • Portals Between the Worlds / Underwater Spirit
    • Footprints, Handprints, and Animal Tracks
    • The Hellgrammite Pictograph
    • The Human Body
    • The Narrows Rock Art Panel
    • Tools for Making Rock Art at The Narrows
    • Rock Art in Context: Art
    • Rock Art in Context: Physical Context
    • Rock Art in Context: Cultural Landscapes
  • Articles
    • The Arkansas Rock Art Project
    • What is Rock Art and What Can it Tell Us About the Past?
    • The Chronological and Cultural Context of Arkansas Rock Art
    • History of Rock Art Research in Arkansas
    • The Petit Jean Painted Rock Art Style
  • Technical Papers
    • Rock Art Documentation in Arkansas
    • The Narrows Rock Art in Archeological Context
    • Photogrammetry at The Narrows
    • Excavations at Rockhouse Cave
    • Archaeogeophysics at Rockhouse Cave
    • Actively Managing Rock Art Sites
  • Resources
    • Activities
      • A Native American Bestiary
      • Ancient Art Forms
      • Ancient Art Styles
      • Here Comes the Sun
      • Petroglyphs and Pictographs
      • Seeing the Ancient Peoples
      • Seeing the World Through Ancient Eyes
      • The Sky World, This World, and the Underworld
      • Using Databases
    • Lesson Plans
      • What is Rock Art Lesson
      • Ancient Animals
      • Art and Culture
      • Mysterious Symbols
      • Rock Art and Ritual
      • Seeing Ancient People Lesson
      • Seeing Ancient Worlds
    • Glossary
    • Bibliography
    • Site Recording Forms
    • Rock Art Links
  • Database
    • Search Database
    • Search Advanced Database
  • Just For Kids
    • Gayle's Quest
    • Raven's Dream
    • Jason and Tiffany's Excellent Adventure
  • Picture Gallery
    • Visit the Picture Gallery
  • Buy the Book!


Quick Facts
What is rock art?
Who made Arkansas rock art?
How are petroglyphs made?
How are pictographs made?
What is the difference between rock art and graffiti?
How old is Arkansas rock art?
Why did Native Americans make rock art?
What kinds of rock art images have been identified?
What are rock art styles?
What threatens to destroy rock art?
Where can I see rock art in Arkansas?
What can I do at a rock art site?

Interpretations
A Horse-and-Rider Pictograph
Fish-trap and Paddlefish
Portals Between the Worlds / Underwater Spirit
Footprints, Handprints, and Animal Tracks
The Hellgrammite Pictograph
The Human Body
The Narrows Rock Art Panel
Tools for Making Rock Art at The Narrows
Rock Art in Context: Art
Rock Art in Context: Physical Context
Rock Art in Context: Cultural Landscapes

Articles
The Arkansas Rock Art Project
What is Rock Art and What Can it Tell Us About the Past?
The Chronological and Cultural Context of Arkansas Rock Art
History of Rock Art Research in Arkansas
The Petit Jean Painted Rock Art Style

Technical Papers
Rock Art Documentation in Arkansas
The Narrows Rock Art in Archeological Context
Photogrammetry at The Narrows
Excavations at Rockhouse Cave
Archaeogeophysics at Rockhouse Cave
Actively Managing Rock Art Sites

Resources
Activities
A Native American Bestiary
Ancient Art Forms
Ancient Art Styles
Here Comes the Sun
Petroglyphs and Pictographs
Seeing the Ancient Peoples
Seeing the World Through Ancient Eyes
The Sky World, This World, and the Underworld
Using Databases
Lesson Plans
What is Rock Art Lesson
Ancient Animals
Art and Culture
Mysterious Symbols
Rock Art and Ritual
Seeing Ancient People Lesson
Seeing Ancient Worlds
Glossary
Bibliography
Site Recording Forms
Rock Art Links

Database
Search Database
Search Advanced Database

Just For Kids
Gayle's Quest
Raven's Dream
Jason and Tiffany's Excellent Adventure

Picture Gallery
Visit the Picture Gallery

Buy the Book!




What can I do at a rock art site?

The main thing to remember when visiting rock art sites in Arkansas is "look but don't touch." Some images are very faded; you will have to get up close and be very observant to make them out, but your efforts will be rewarded by a glimpse of something left by human hands many hundreds of years ago. A small hand mirror, plain aluminum cup, or other object to reflect light might help you see a faded rock art image inside a dim rock shelter. Try to imagine what the artist wanted to depict. Make your own sketches or take pictures if you like. But don't touch the rock surface and don't try to "enhance" the image with chalk or any other substance; this will only cause harm. Don't clear vegetation around the site to let in more light: prolonged exposure to sunlight may accelerate fading of the ancient pigments and you might also damage archeological deposits in the ground. Needless to say, you should never dig at these sites. It is unlawful to disturb an archeological site on public lands, or on private land without permission. Don't build campfires nearby: billowing smoke may deposit ash on rock art images that can become incorporated into the rock through time. And remember that writing graffiti or otherwise defacing the rock art is unethical and may be criminal.

Site visitors
Rock art site visitors.

Rock art is a fragile cultural resource that will not last forever. Let's try to preserve it for as long as we can. Treat it gently and with care to show respect for the cultures that created it, and do your part to ensure it will remain to inspire future generations. You can visit the Eastern States Rock Art Research Association's Web site for further information on the ethical treatment of rock art.

Please notify the Arkansas Archeological Survey if you find rock art sites that we may not know about. You can contribute to our knowledge and help preserve Arkansas's rich archeological heritage.

| Home | Quick Facts | Interpretations | Articles | Technical Papers | Resources | Database | Just For Kids | Picture Gallery | Buy the Book! |

View Printer Friendly Page

          
Last Updated: April 4, 2007 at 1:42:46 PM Central Time
Contact Us Home Home