FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - We don’t know who they were. We don’t know when they lived. We only know that at some point over the last 12,000 years, the earliest known inhabitants of Arkansas left an indelible mark on the landscape of our state - mysterious works of art, carved and painted onto solid rock.

Of the 35,000 recorded archeological sites in Arkansas, more than 135 are reported to contain rock art, representing hundreds of ancient images and symbols scattered across the state. But thanks to the work of researchers at the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Archeological Survey, works of art that would take years of family vacations and hundreds of miles on the odometer to see can now be viewed at just one location: http://rockart.uark.edu/.

"Unlike other artifacts, rock art can’t be transported and preserved in museums. It’s fixed to the earth. Removing it takes it out of context and in effect destroys its meaning," said George Sabo, professor of anthropology and Survey archeologist. "The only way to bring all this art to one place to be viewed and studied is to create a virtual museum."

Sabo and his colleagues at the Arkansas Archeological Survey have done just that. With a $17,600 grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council, Sabo, Jerry Hilliard, Mike Evans, Jared Pebworth, Michelle Berg Vogel, Deborah Sabo, Larry Porter and Web applications developer Deborah Weddle created an on-line database of Arkansas rock art and designed an educational Web site to accompany it.

Although relatively rare, rock art represents one of the most important cultural artifacts available to archeologists. Uncovering a tool or a refuse pile may reveal much about the livelihood and activities of ancient peoples. But artwork offers a glimpse into an aspect of human history still shrouded in mystery - the intellect and belief systems that shaped our ancestors’ lives.

"It’s hard to get into the minds of ancient people. But when we find iconographic material - be it a decorated pot, a carved smoking pipe or rock art - that imagery is the product of people thinking about the world and rendering their visions through art," Sabo said. "That can give us insight into how ancient people thought about the world and how they acted upon those thoughts. If we can figure that out, then we’ve really said something about past societies and what life was like for ancient people."

As a result, the wealth of rock art located in Arkansas comprises a significant resource for anthropologists and archeologists worldwide. Sabo and his colleagues created the on-line archive and Web site in part to impress upon people the significance of rock art and the importance of preserving it.

The on-line database currently contains hundreds of painted or carved images collected from rock art sites across the state. Each entry includes a photograph of the image and information about its media, color, motif and orientation on the rock face. Visitors can search the database for specific images by selecting fields about the time period, cultural affiliation, site type, media and image depicted.

In addition to the searchable database, the Web site offers informational material designed to meet the needs of a variety of audiences - from Arkansas school children to professional archeologists. Features include a "Quick Facts" link that answers frequently asked questions, a photo gallery of rock art images, articles and technical papers, and educational activities and lesson plans that apply to specific subject areas and grade levels in accordance with state curriculum guidelines.

The Web site also provides a recording form that individuals can download, complete and submit to the Arkansas Archeological Survey if they believe they’ve discovered a new rock art site. The intent of this form is both to standardize the process of identifying and documenting rock art and to stimulate more research in the field.

"One of the reasons we can’t say more about what rock art means, how old it is or which group of people created it is simply because there hasn’t been enough research," Sabo said. "One hope for this on-line archive is that it will encourage more interest and further study."

In fact, so little research has been done that the majority of the photographs posted in the database were submitted to the Archeological Survey by hikers, tourists and amateur archeologists who stumbled upon the sites by chance. With future funding, Sabo hopes to send a team of trained professionals to document every rock art site in the state - taking clearer photographs of each image as well as precise measurements of size and color.

In the meantime, the on-line database acts as a valuable record - preserving rock art images before weathering or vandalism ruin them. Years down the line, researchers can compare the archived photographs to the current state of the images and see where fading, cracking or defacement have occurred. It’s particularly important to document the rock art now, said Sabo, who has noticed fading on certain images even within the last 10 years.

"There are so many forces working to erase the record that we have," he explained. "Rock surfaces crack and break. You get minerals growing on them, plants, mosses and lichens. And then of course there are the thoughtless people who deface rock art, intentionally or not - vandalize it or, even worse, try to chisel the images off the rock so that they can put them on the fireplace at home."

Hoping to protect the rock art from treasure hunters and vandals, Sabo and his colleagues posted only a general map on the web site. Professional archeologists can obtain specific locations by contacting the Archeological Survey, but the general public must content itself with visiting sites that are open for tourism, specifically, those located in Petit Jean State Park.

Despite this precaution, Sabo considers it essential that the public be involved and informed about the protection of these valuable images. By providing an opportunity for people to view the state’s rock art and to learn about its significance, he feels the U of A and the Archeological Survey will help raise the awareness and interest that will preserve these works of art for future generations.

"Our whole philosophy is that we can do more to protect fragile archeological resources if we work with the interests of the general public rather than trying to enshroud everything in the mystique of professionalism," Sabo said. "We want to cultivate their curiosity and turn that toward positive appreciation of these sites."

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