Prehistoric rock art maps cosmological belief

Phys.org ^ | June 19, 2013 | U of Tennessee at Knoxville

[SunkenCiv]

It is likely some of the most widespread and oldest art in the United States. Pieces of rock art dot the Appalachian Mountains, and research by University of Tennessee, Knoxville, anthropology professor Jan Simek finds each engraving or drawing is strategically placed to reveal a cosmological puzzle.

Recently, the discoveries of prehistoric rock art have become more common. With these discoveries comes a single giant one -- all these drawing and engravings map the prehistoric peoples' cosmological world.

The research led by Simek, president emeritus of the UT system and a distinguished professor of science, is published in this month's edition of the journal Antiquity. The paper is co-authored by Nick Herrmann of Mississippi State University, Alan Cressler of the U.S. Geological Survey and Sarah Sherwood of The University of the South.

[SunkenCiv]

This art features a bird holding ceremonial maces and a ceremonial monolithic axe transforming into a human face. Credit: Jan Simek, Alan Cressler, Nicholas Herrmann and Sarah Sherwood/Antiquity Publications Ltd.

[SunkenCiv]

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[Sacajaweau]

I have never been convinced that these were done at a particular date. Because I carved a rock years back along a historic route and left the date 1788.

[Telepathic Intruder]

So they basically divided the universe into 3 sections: heaven, earth, and hell, although not quite in the sense we are familiar with. Closer to the Greek sense.

[katana]

Because I carved a rock years back along a historic route and left the date 1788.

You probably just blew the bottom out of somebody's research paper with that admission.

[a fool in paradise]

Prehistoric rock art cosmos BUMP