Indian Rock Art of the Columbia Plateau (A Samuel and Althea Stroum Book) [Paperback]

James D. Keyser (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Samuel and Althea Stroum Book | Publication Date: June 2003

From the river valleys of interior British Columbia south to the hills of interior British Columbia south to the hills of northern Oregon and east to the continental divide in western Montana, hundreds of cliffs and boulders display carved and painted designs created by ancient artists who inhabited this area, the Columbia Plateau, as long as seven thousand years ago. Expressing a vital social and spiritual dimension in the lives of these hunter-gatherers, rock art captivates us with its evocative power and mystery. At once an irreplaceable yet fragile cultural resource, it documents Native histories, customs, and visions through thousands of years. This valuable reference and guidebook addresses basic questions of what petroglyphs and pictographs are, how they were produced, and how archaeologists classify and date them. The author, James Keyser, identifies five regions on the Columbia Plateau, each with its own variant of the rock art style identifiable as belonging exclusively to the region. He describes for each region the setting and scope of the rock art along with its design characteristics and possible meaning. Through line drawings, photographs, and detailed maps he provides a guide to the sites where rock art can be viewed. In western Montana, rock art motifs express the ritualistic seeking of a spirit helper from the natural world. In interior British Columbia, rayed arcs above the heads of human figures demonstrate the possession of a guardian spirit. Twin figures on the central Columbia Plateau reveal another belief - the special power of twins - and hunting scenes celebrate successes of the chase. The grimacing, evocative face of Tsagiglalal, in lower Columbia pictographs,testifies to the Plateau Indians' "death cult" response to the European diseases that decimated their villages between 1700 and 1840. On the southeastern Plateau, images of horseback riders mark the adoption, after 1700, of the equestrian and cultural habits of the northwestern

Product Details

• Paperback: 139 pages
• Publisher: University of Washington Press (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0295971606
• ISBN-13: 978-0295971605
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #461,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Introduction To Rock Art, August 13, 2000

By 

Tanis D. Partee (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Indian Rock Art of the Columbia Plateau (A Samuel and Althea Stroum Book) (Paperback)

This book provides a wonderful overview of petroglyphs and pictographs in general, with the emphasis on the Northwestern states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Western Montana) and British Columbia. There are images on nearly every page including black and white photos and drawing recreations. Many elements of rock art are described and defined. There is a time line illustrating eras from pit and groove to modern, and a brief description of what Native American Indians were doing during that time. There are also some quantitative charts of elements. This is a great book for anyone interested in Native Americans, Archaeology, Rock Art, or a great way to get interested.