Rock Art: The Meanings and Myths Behind Ancient Ruins in the Southwest and Beyond

It is a wonderful addition to the library in understanding the culture creating these images with different techniques. M口Stewart Green is a expert in rock climbing and ventures out to the Southwest to explore the creations of rock art in different States to bring us this book. On pg. 64, he touches on rock art as writing. Reading and decoding do not exist because the old ones who created the art are long gone. I would like to share my personal exploration to Black Mountain Rock Art District near Barstow, (p.116), Petroglyph National Monument (p.14). Both I found very ancient Chinese Oracle Bone writings. In Washington State Park (p.136 of Missouri), the rock art carved many mythical thunderbirds. On one of the hanging panels, it showed a symbol picture of a kneeing down figure offering sacrifice to the West. In Chinese myth, thunder came from a bird. The spiral circle is a primary elementary Yin and Yang symbol. Dr Ruskamp in his book Asiatic Echos documented with pictures of rock art in Chinese Oracle Bone Writing. He showed one with three symbols: reading from right to letter, a boat, a fruit tree and field - American genesis by a shaman who knew this writing system left us the chapter, came by boat, landed on a fruit place and settled down to cultivate the field! Steward includes a chapter on the rock art sites across US with address and information even some with pictures. This is a field guide for interested readers to explore the American history. Maybe he will offer a DVD for his rock art exploration. It is a god book to read, and follow its guide to experience the tour and learning.