Glossary of Rock Art Terms

Hunting Magic: Some prehistoric cultures performed ceremonies before going on a hunt to insure that the hunt was successful. One such ceremony involved depicting a successful hunt on a cave wall or other rock face.

 

Petroglyph: images that have been scratched, incised, pecked, or abraded into a rock face.

 

Pictograph: images produced by painting or drawing on the rock's surface.

 

Rock Art: Inclusive term for images on rock. Two types are found: petroglyphs and pictographs.

 

Rockshelter: A naturally formed hollow or shelter in a more or less vertical rock face. It may protect a large area but is not considered a cave.

Site: a location where rock art or other archaeological remains are present. Each site receives a unique number.*

 

Stewardship: Preserving our heritage. Being a caretaker of our resources.

 

Vision Quest: A ritual undergone by adolescent boys, usually alone, in order to be considered men by the group or other leaders. This rite of passage might help decide the future of the group, the crops, etc. A dream state is usually achieved by fasting and / or sleep deprivation for several days.

* A Note About Site Numbers . . .

Did you know that sites are numbered using a three-part system? For example, in the site number 14EW7, 14 identifies the site as being in Kansas, EW stands for Ellsworth County, and 7 is the number of the site.

The Archeology Office at the Kansas State Historical Society in Topeka is responsible for assigning Kansas archaeological site numbers. You can read more about recording archaeological sites on their website­
http://www.kshs.org/archeologists/index.htm