TRACCE no. 2 – by Carol Diaz-Granados
In 1993, a two-volume dissertation was completed entitled: The Petroglyphs and Pictographs of Missouri: A distributional, stylistic, contextual, temporal, and functional analysis of the state’s rock graphics.
In spite of its 750 pages, it is still an overview. There is much to be done yet. However, it contains documentation for the 135 known sites (as of 1993 — we are still receiving leads to sites) with an appendix of line drawings containing sketches of each site (some sketches being done by avocational archaeologists before I was even born!), terminology, descriptions, etc.
Volume I consists of intro, analysis, discussion: major motif types, motif distribution (also mapped for the 50 major motifs), cautious interpretation in view of a number of factors including the mythology of native groups from the general area.
I have assembled a team of specialists and we are currently seeking funding to date the pigments at a number of the sites.
Research continues.
Washington University 1 Brookings Drive Department of Anthropology
St.Louis, MO 63130-4899
Leave a Reply