Solar-Petroglyph Interaction at Casa Malpais

“Third Thursday Food for Thought” Dinner and Presentation With Archaeology Technician Thomas P. Robinson. Through time, the world’s cultures have used different media to express their belief systems that give structure and meaning to everyday life. Rock art is a common form that is highly visible in the southwestern U.S. Studies have attempted to segregate images by culture styles, and associations or interpretations by current Native American participants.
However, anthropological and ethnological studies show that cultural world views change through time according to shifts in natural forces (resources) and external factors of contact (exchange, warfare) and can modify social and ritual structures to adjust to that change. Retouch or repecking of rock art and additions by practitioners or later cultures with similar world views and experiences has added layers of complexity.
In this presentation, Thomas Robinson will present a new way of looking at solar-calendric function of some petroglyphs that may offer insights into the larger operating belief systems in which specific imagery details are fluid and easily used by new or evolving society groups and clans in accepting roles in the overall social structure. At Casa Malpais, a great kiva and pueblo site in east -central Arizona, distinctly characteristic petroglyphs provide an opportunity to test hypotheses of image type, groupings, and solar shadow-and-light movement across the images, and suggest society/kiva requisites.

There is no entry fee. Donations will be requested to benefit Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s educational efforts. Guests may select & purchase dinner from the restaurant’s menu.
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED by 3 p.m. on the Wednesday before the program because the Fire Code limits meeting room capacity and because the restaurant needs advance notice to schedule sufficient staff for our event. Contact Old Pueblo at 520-798-1201 or info@oldpueblo.org for your restaurant reservation or more information.