Dissertation Research: Prehistoric Missouri Petroglyphs

尽管业余考古学家的工作表明，密苏里州有丰富的史前岩石绘画和雕刻，但还没有对这一丰富的数据源进行全面和系统的研究。在David Browman博士的指导下，Carol Diaz-Granados女士将研究这些材料作为她博士论文研究的一部分。她已经联系了三个人，并获得了他们的笔记和记录的副本。此外，她已经开始通过向密苏里考古协会的600名成员邮寄问卷的方式收集其他以前未报告过的遗址的信息，并联系了邻近地区的专业人士。所有回复将进行实地调查，并核实材料的位置。然后，这些数据将被记录下来，并以标准化的方式对绘画和雕刻进行拍照。在下面的分析中，将区分分组，然后分析每个分组的单个元素、主题、主题内容和结构。区位分析将包括相关的环境变量。研究结果将有助于深入了解岩石图形作为信息传递手段的功能。虽然考古学家同意，原则上岩石艺术为重建史前社会提供了宝贵的数据来源，但实际上，至少在北美，很少有人重视这一点。公布的数据通常是分散的，难以综合。使用不同的记录方法。此外，还没有被广泛接受的数据分析技术。迪亚兹-格拉纳多斯女士的项目应有助于纠正这种情况，并有望为这一领域提供一个范例和激励。这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。首先，它将汇集一个庞大的数据库，这将引起许多考古学家的兴趣。其次，它将增加我们对北美过去的了解。最后，它将协助培训一位极有前途的年轻科学家。

Although work by avocational archaeologists has shown that the state of Missouri is rich in prehistoric rock paintings and engravings, no comprehensive and systematic research has been done on this rich data source. Under the direction of Dr. David Browman, Ms. Carol Diaz-Granados will examine these materials as part of her doctoral dissertation research. She has contacted three individuals and been given copies of their notes and records. In addition, she has begun to collect information on other previously unreported sites through a questionnaire mailing to the 600 members of the Missouri Archaeological Society and has contacted professionals in adjoining regions. A field survey will follow up all replies, and the location of materials will be verified. The data will then be recorded and the paintings and engravings photographed in a standardized way. In a following analysis, groupings will be discerned and each will then be analyzed for individual elements, motifs, theme content, and structure. Locational analyses will include related environmental variables. The result should provide insight into the function of rock graphics as a means of information transmittal. While archaeologists agree that in principle rock art provides a valuable source of data for reconstructing prehistoric societies, in practice little emphasis has, in North America at least, been placed on this. Data, if published, are usually scattered and hard to synthesize. Different recording methods are used. Also, no widely acceptable techniques exist for the analysis of data. Ms. Diaz-Granados project should help to remedy this situation and, hopefully, provide an exemplar and stimulus for this field. This research is important for several reasons. First, it will assemble a large data base which will be of interest to many archaeologists. Secondly, it will increase our understanding of North America's past. Finally, it will assist in the training of an extremely promising young scientist.