Eclectic Archeological Exchange
Saturday, August 25, 2018
12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
“Ancient Pueblos and Rock Art of New Mexico in Perspective” by Lydia Peake and “South Africa – Origins, Animals and Rock Art” by Tom Johansen, Paul K. Davis, and Jan Johansen
The Eclectic Archeological Exchange has been instituted to tap into the archaeological/anthropological adventures and insight of the Society’s members. This event will feature four Society members offering perspective on Native Americans in New Mexico region and South Africa.
In May twenty-nine Society members enjoyed a tour of northern New Mexico with a focus on anthropology and archaeology past and present. See article below. Lydia Peake will put the tour in perspective by weaving a story around the ruins and reconstructions of pit houses, kivas, multi-story, multi-room pueblos and post contact churches. She will offer a timeline of events associated with the places visited. Also key to the story of this land of enchantment will be rock art. Don’t miss this step into life in the not-so recent past in the Southwest.
Last November six Society members and four individuals from the Renaissance Society journeyed to South Africa. The focus of the trip was archaeology—origins of man and rock art. Three of the travelers will review aspects of the trip. Paul K. Davis will share information on animals in the region. His scholarly presentation will focus on present day animals that everyone wants to see in the wild. Many of these animals played a significant role in the culture of the area. Dr. Davis will identify common and not so familiar animals of South Africa.
Jan Johansen will present “Rock Painting and Engravings of South Africa. She structured the trip to South Africa to visit the richest areas of rock paintings: Cederberg and Drakensberg and also engravings from the karoo. Archaeologists suspect that during the late Middle Stone Age, about 60,000 years ago artists were painting images on the walls of their domestic campsites. As difficult as rock art painting is to date, in the Drakensberg paintings have been dated from as recent as 200 to 300 years ago to as old as 4000 years ago. Through photos and stories Jan will address how rock art may shed light on how the hunter- gatherers who created the images saw the world and perceived their place in it.
Tom Johansen will reflect on “Human Origins”. South Africa escaped the glaciers from the last ice age and so was a biologically rich coastal zone. Was this unique place the home of modern humans? After returning from archeological sites such as Pinnacle Point, Sterkfontein and Wonderwerk Cave and museums including Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town, Blombos Museum of Archaeology in Stilbaai, Centre for Coastal Paleoscience at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (to name a few), he found that he had many more questions than before the visits. Dr. Johansen will share his perspectives about what he has discovered concerning the origins of modern humans.
Program
12:00 – 1:00 Meet, greet and eat
1:00 – 1:45 “Ancient Pueblos and Rock Art of New Mexico in Perspective” Lydia Peake
1:45 – 2:30 “South African Animals”, Paul K. Davis
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 3:30 “South African Rock Art”, Jan Johansen
3:30 – 4:15 “South African Origins”, Tom Johansen
