sign in sign up
<<
Home , Calico Early Man Site, George McJunkin, Sewing needle

BUSINESSBUSINESS NAMENAME BUSINESSBUSINESS NAMENAME coalition news

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 MAY-JUNE 2021 Inside -- ChallengingChallenging thethe tenetstenets ofof mainstreammainstream scientificscientific aagg e e n n d d a a s s - - This issue we P A G E 2 Welcome to the Pleistocene Coalition provide three Palaeo-American reprints by Dr. stone figurine from Virginia Steen- the Calico Hills, CA McIntyre . The Richard Michael Gramly main one is India about George P A G E 6 McJunkin, the The fittest creatures, Raghubir Singh Thakur (MA History), black the innovators, the sadly passed away in November. His Part 5 who discovered survivors —not neces- this issue, Animal associations and Conclusion, Asia Folsom culture, sarily the same, Part 2 speaks enough for hope of rock to follow Ray art dating with its necessarily brief Tom Baldwin Urbaniak’s article text and pictures. See Thakur p.10 . on Folsom. Also P A G E 8 Virginia’s Part 2 Experimenting Tom Baldwin , in his ‘Humanity, on taking better religion and evidence’ photographs, Dragoş Gheorghiu takes a long overdue and one with look at the ignored Jim Harrod on P A G E 1 0 implications of pioneering and pivotal figure stones. See Steen- Mathematical creative work by , McIntyre p.18 , p.20 , p.15 . in India, Part 5 the , and the Animal associations . See and Conclusion Baldwin p.6 . Spain Raghubir S. Thakur P A G E 1 2 50-year interna- Nine Men’s Morris tional archaeolo- gist, Dr. Richard Part 2: Alquerque Michael Gramly John Feliks PhD , whose prolific background includes working P A G E 1 4 with Richard Leakey in Kenya, debuts a startling from the Calico Hills, CA Member news & (the only New World site excavated by Dr. ). Confirmed by PCN expert and founding member, Dr. James Harrod, he provides full description of the other info find including comparisons with similar artifacts from the Old World readily called Brian , Tom Bald- in the popular vernacular, ‘Venus figurines.’ See Gramly p.2. win , Terry Bradford, Romania Virginia Steen-McIntyre, Engineer, rock art researcher and preservationist, Ray Urbaniak , Romanian experimental Jim Harrod, John Feliks debuts another astonishing Native American rock art image. archaeologist and artist This time it is what appears to P A G E 1 6 Professor Dragos Gheor- American cheetah be a pictographic representa- tion of an extinct American ghiu, PhD , describes a new experiment he Ray Urbaniak cheetah chasing a pronghorn conducted just a few weeks antelope in a photo taken by P A G E 1 7 ago in May. Gheorghiu’s rock art photographer Jennifer Hatcher . What to make of work and unique experi- Urbaniak’s nearly 10 years of such evidence mainstream Clovis/ AZ documentary pictograph mental approach to ar- in PCN continues to confound and stir the Folsom dates chaeology attempts to infuriation of some in the old-school Eurocen- understand shared per- Ray Urbaniak tric anthropology community which has ceptions common to all attacked Urbaniak’s work in knee-jerk fashion PAGES 18 – 1 9 people through timeless Revisiting 2013 as he claims early Native American skills far above where the community has kept them experiences of such as ‘Black cowboy’ brings landscape, fire, water and for decades. PCN readers are well-aware this sky. See Gheorghiu p.8 Native Americans is the same community that has sidelined into the Pleistocene Modern artist’s depiction such evidence regarding the capabilities of Virginia Steen-McIntyre Homo erectus at Bilzingsleben (Germany) More on interpreting and Valsequillo (Mexico). If Urbaniak’s new I.D. is correct it will be the 2nd animal ancient depiction in PCN of an extinct American cat. See Urbaniak p.16 . Ed Swanzey Last issue, inspired by R. S. Thakur’s Part 4 article, John Feliks suggested P A G E 2 0 that several popularly presumed game boards found in rock art likely did not Pennsylvania; Revisiting 2011 begin as game boards. Instead of originating as games in single places then not a game More on taking spreading throughout the world Feliks suggests the game board designs that better photographs revolve around squares and triangles are so natural to the geometric exploration of those shapes they could Virginia Steen-McIntyre easily have had many isolated origins from all the way through to the modern world. See Feliks p.12 .

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 2

A Palaeo-American stone figurine from the Calico Hills, San Bernardino County, California By Richard Michael Gramly, PhD , Anthropology

Interior, southern Califor- Ancient is every- “The sheer nia in the present day is a where to be seen ( Fig. 3 ) dry, hot region deficient in barely a day’s walk from the The Calico Hills themselves wealth of moisture but rich in archaeo- Calico Hills, and artifacts are an immense lithic source, material logical vestiges, many of which date typologically from an early era (Campbell et al. 1937; Moratto 2004; Simpson 1989, 1998; Gramly and Walley, 2019; Gramly 2019). To some degree, the record of pres- ence keys into the latest phase of a geomorphologi- cal scheme for the Pleisto- cene (Reheis et al. 2012). Extinct late-glacial Lake …certainly Manix ( Figs. 1 –2) was a of this ancient captured landscape, and if claims and held the for ‘Early Man’ at the Cal- ico Hills site are accepted, then the Fig. 2. The Calico Hills site near Barstow, San Bernardino County, California as it ap- relatively pears today. In the far distance is the low-lying basin of extinct , which may lush envi- have been important to Palaeo-Americans when it was better watered. For a similar ronment landscape view in 1976 see p. 34 in Herbert L. Minshall’s book The Broken Stones. around this lake must have at- tracted animal and human popula- tions. A fact that is little appreci- ated is the abundance of flaked stone raw materials Fig. 1. Map of the Mohave River drainage, within the California, showing location of the Calico Hills Lake Manix site () in relation to Harvard basin and Hill and Jasper Hill, San Bernardino County. most of San Ber- Fig. 3. Ancient, quarried outcrop of chert and talus of quarry debris at Harvard Hill, San Bernardino County, California. Photo taken April 2021 by R.M. Gramly. attention of nardino County. The sheer Palaeo- wealth of tool material— both chert associated with made of Harvard Hill chert and everywhere the surface American sedimentary rocks and fine- and Jasper Hill felsite were of the ground is littered with groups.” grained (aphanitic) volcanic introduced to prehistoric and cores in addi- rocks—certainly captured workshops upon spurs and tion to whole, flaked — and held the attention of ridges of the Calico Hills some still useful. Palaeo-American groups. (Fig. 4 on following page). >> Cont.Cont. onon pagepage 3 3

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 3

Palaeo-American stone figurine from the Calico Hills (cont.)

Palaeo-American artifacts had been investigated ac- in order to promote our are particularly abundant at tively during the 1970s. At study of it. “The surface Calico Hills ( Figs. 5–7); the time of of the ground however, finished projectile Dempsey’s points, visit to the which are ridge during convenient the late markers of 1990s, how- temporal ever, explora- phases, tions of the are seldom Calico Early found. Man site had Nonethe- ceased. Even- less, tually the site heavy- was closed to duty pris- the public by matic the Bureau of Land Manage- Fig. 6. Left: Selection of stone artifacts from the cores, ment (BLM), surface of ridges and spurs east of the Calico Hills mega- and today (in site – typical of what may be collected at this lo- prismatic 2021) it is cality. A-C, prismatic blades of chert (longest specimen measures 90 mm); D, fragment of a blades, derelict. white quartz ; E, hammerstone of massive Upon the sur- green jasper; F, utilized flake made of red jasper– denticu- presumably originating at Jasper Hill, San Bernar- lates, and face of the dino County. Right: Richard Dempsey holds a kindred ridge Richard that was anciently made by trimming objects, Dempsey ob- a flake of red jasper. It was discovered upon the are clear served and surface during 2018. collected a Fig. 4. Terminus of spur or ridge extending indicators from Calico Hills towards extinct Lake that Pa- curious chert biface Manix. The Calico Hills Figurine was discov- laeo- measuring 103 mm in ered upon the surface at this location dur- Americans, length and weighing ing the 1990s by Richard Dempsey. who be- 108.5 grams ( Fig. 8 on longed to the following page). This the Clovis archaeological artifact was undamaged is littered and unlike any other with debitage culture (or perhaps some earlier related manifesta- specimen known to him and cores in tion) were familiar with from a Lake Manix site. every rock Although not fully realiz- and ridge ing its significance, in this Dempsey curated the region. artifact carefully but did The Calico not report his find to any Hills archaeologist until 2020. Figurine That year he sent photo- graphs of the artifact to During the author and to Dr. one of his James B. Harrod—an many expert in ancient figura- trips to tive of both Fig. 7. Palaeo-American denticulates Fig. 5. Large Palaeo-American prismatic explore the Old and New Worlds. collected upon the surface of ridges blade core of chert weighing approximately archaeo- Both of us recognized and spurs east of the Calico Hills site, 3 kg (seven pounds) discovered upon the logical that this biface was a April, 2021. The length of the unifacial surface of a spur or ridge east of the Calico sites remarkable rendering in denticulate with two working edges Hill site during April, 2021. within and an intractable raw mate- (being held) is 123 mm. The upper right specimen is also unifacial but has only around rial of a female human one denticulate edge. The lower right addition to the Lake Manix basin, na- being, which in both artifact is bifacial and shows denticula- tive Californian, Richard shape and size had coun- tion everywhere around its periphery. whole, flaked Dempsey, inspected the terparts in prehistoric tools—some southern end of a spur or cultures of Upper Palaeo- Artist-illustrator Steve still useful.” ridge of the Calico Hills lithic (and later) age. We Wallmann’s masterful render- (again, Fig. 4). The ridge encouraged Richard ing of the Calico Hills Figurine lies east of the famous Cal- Dempsey to have illustra- ico Early Man site, which tions done of the > Cont. on page 4

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 4

Palaeo-American stone figurine from the Calico Hills (cont.)

(Fig. 9 ) reveals that rough to early prehistory in the Old made by notching flakes and percussion flaking was used to World exhibit perfunctorily- prismatic blades of the right “The site shape it and produce a thick made heads upon columnar shapes. All the Kharaysin figu- was closed lenticular cross-section. No- necks, de-emphasized arms rines are frontal depictions. where are edge grind- ing and prepared platforms in evidence. A columnar head/neck was fash- ioned along with shoul- ders or stumpy arms. Wide hips are indicated, and at the Fig. 8. The Calico Hills Figurine, made of mottled chert. Length = 103 mm; figurine’s base, there Fig. 9. Illustration by artist Steve Wallmann showing both sides and an edge weight = 108.5 grams. Photograph by of the Calico Hills Figurine (2021). Richard Dempsey. is an inden- tation sug- Too, older sculptures of to the public gesting buttocks. Legs were that are united with shoulders omitted. The biface at the (and sometimes, united with ‘Venus’ figurines from Eura- by the Bu- hips was thinned by a mas- breasts), and capacious hips. sian sites depict reau of Land terfully struck outrepasse Legs may be part of these Management flake ( Fig. 10 ) that almost sculptures or may be omitted (BLM), and reached one of the shoulders. altogether. A good example of these highly stylized sculp- Skillful outrepasse flaking is today (2021) tures is the famous much in evidence figurine from the Strelice site, upon Palaeo- Czech Republic ( Fig. 11 ). If American Clovis the calves and thighs were bifaces (Bradley, eliminated, it would resemble Collins, and - more closely the Calico Hills mings 2010), and Figurine in shape and size the technique also despite being made of baked characterizes much clay—not flaked stone. older tools of western Eurasia Likewise, another well-known (Stanford and Bradley sculpture from the Czech Re- 2012). On the face of public (Moravia) having a basic it, the removal of a resemblance to the Calico Hills large outrepasse flake Figurine is the ceramic ‘Venus’ argues for a Clovis from the Upper Palaeolithic Fig. 11. The famous female figurine age of the figurine— Dolni Vestonice site ( Fig. 12 A from the Neolithic Strelice site, or older. A ‘Venus’ on the following page). The Czech Republic. Length = 218 mm. figurine of this antiq- correspondence between uity would be unique both sculptures would be the female form as seen from Fig. 10. Illustration of one side of in the New World, even more acute if the legs the side (Fiedorczuk et al. the Calico Hills Figurine showing a although there are of the Dolni Vestonice work 2007). These variants also skillfully removed outrepasse many similar exam- were excluded from view. were made by trimming (overshot) flake—colored yellow. ples of equal or flakes and prismatic blades Similar knapping technique is in evi- greater age that have With regard to basic form, of the right shape and size. dence upon many Palaeo-American a close match to the Calico bifacial flaked stone artifacts. come to light across Eurasia. Hills Figurine is furnished by Frontal depictions of human small sculptures from the females and males of stylized, it is dere- Comparisons to figurines early Neolithic (7,000-8,000 severely simplified form are lict.” in Old and New Worlds B.C.) Kharaysin site, Jordan— well known for Late Neolithic As a class, frontal sculptures of Fig. 12 B (on the following cultures around the Aegean. In female human beings dating page). These figurines, os- tensibly female, were simply > Cont. on page 5

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 5

Palaeo-American stone figurine from the Calico Hills (cont.)

Fig. 12 are shown well-studied References Cited Simpson, R.D. (DeEtte). examples derived from Cy- 1989. An introduction to the “With regard Bradley, B.A., M.B. Collins, and A. Calico Early Man Site. Lithic cladic culture (Doumas 1979; Hemmings. assemblage . San Bernardino to basic form, Von Bothmer 1979). Any com- 2010. Clovis . Interna- County Museum Association tional Monographs in Prehis- Quarterly 36(3): 1–91. 1998 tory. Ann Arbor, Michigan. reprint. Campbell, E.W., W.H. ------Crozer, E.A. Campbell, 1998. The Lake Manix Lithic C.A. Amsden, J.A. Barbieri, Industry. San Bernardino and F.D. Bode. County Museum Association 1937. The archeology of Quarterly 45(3 & 4): 1–48. Pleistocene lake Mohave. Stanford, D.J. and B.A. Bradley. Southwest Museum Papers 2012. Across Atlantic ice. 11. Los Angeles, California. University of California Clifford, P.A. Press. Berkeley. 1984. (Catalogue notes) Von Bothmer, D. Ceremonial objects of 1979. (Catalogue notes) ancient Mexico . Pink Greek art of the Aegean Palace Museum. Mem- islands. The Metropolitan phis, Tennessee. Museum of Art. New York. Doumas, C. 1979. Cycladic art . The RICHARD M ICHAEL G RAMLY , PhD, is Museum of Fine Arts. an archaeologist with a BS in Houston. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and an AM and PhD in Fiedorczuk, J., B. Bratlund, anthropology (Harvard Univer- E. Kolstrup, and R. Schild. sity). He has conducted archaeo- 2007. Late Magdalenian logical and geological fieldwork in feminine flint plaquettes six countries and 30 states. His from Poland. Antiquity PhD dissertation (1975) focused 81: 97–105. on Kenyan and Tanzanian prehis- Gramly, R.M. tory. Dr. Gramly worked for six 2019. Presumed evidence years in East Africa two years of of Clovis industry at which he was an Exhibits Planner Harvard Hill, San Bernar- at the National Museum of dino County, California. Kenya, Nairobi, under famed Pleistocene Coalition anthropologist Richard Leakey, News 11(4): 2–4.

Gramly, R.M. and D. Walley. Fig. 12. Stylized Eurasian figurines of various raw materials, shown 2019 (posted). Thick at correct relative size. A, famous baked clay ‘Venus’ figurine from lanceolate points and the Upper Palaeolithic site Dolni Vestonice, Moravia, height = 115 development of fluted mm; B, remarkable series of notched flakes and prismatic blades, very points. Researchgate.net. early Neolithic, Kharaysin site, Jordan (Ibanez et al . 2020), greatest Ibanez, J.J., J.R. Muniz, height = 50 mm; C, violin-shaped, marble figurine, early Cycladic, T. Huet, J. Santana, height = 130 mm (Doumas 1979: 35); D, marble statuette of a male, L.C. Teira, F. Borrell, R. Early Cycladic I ( c. 3000 B.C.), height = 25 cm (Von Bothmer 1979: 47). Rosillo, and E. Iriarte. 2020. Flint ‘figurines a close pendium of human figurine from the Early Neolithic site sculpture (as for example, that of Kharaysin, Jordan. Antiq- match to the uity 94(376): 880-99. published by Safani Galley, Calico Hills 1998) is sure to feature such Minshall, H.L. Figurine is Cycladic sculptures, which in 1976. The broken stones . Copley Fig. 13. Outlines of prehistoric Publishing. Van Nuys, California. a general way remind us of ceramic figurines from Mexico show- furnished by ing columnar or cylindrical heads, the Calico Hills Figurine. Moratto, M.J. small sculp- 2004 (reprint). California ar- de-emphasized arms but prominent tures from Finally, the conventions for depict- chaeology . Coyote Press. shoulders, and full hips. Left : Small ing female figurines that ancient Salinas, California. pre-Classic figurine from the Tlatilco the early artists of the Old World followed site, Mexico, height = 125 mm Reheis, M.C., J. Bright, S.P. Lund, D.M. (Clifford 1984: 6); Right : Colima flat Neolithic are also evident among prehis- Miller, G. Skipp, and R.J. Fleck. figurine, height = 80 mm (courtesy (7,000-8,000 toric cultures of the New World, 2012. A half-million-year of Manu Antiques, Honolulu, Hawaii). as for example, certain ceramic record of paleoclimate from B.C.) Kharay- the Lake Manix core, Mojave and stone sculptures from Mex- being well-acquainted with the sin site, Desert, California. Palaeo- ico ( Fig. 13 ). These conventions geography, palaeoclimatology, entire Leakey family. Jordan— bridge both time and distance, palaeoecology 365-6: 11–37. Links to all of Dr. Gramly’s arti- Fig. 12 B.” reminding us that all sculp- Safani Gallery. cles in PCN can be found at: tures—including the Calico Hills 1998. Acts of faith: idols of Figurine—belong to the common ancient cultures. 980 Madison http://pleistocenecoalition.com/ context of our humanity. Avenue, New York, N.Y. #richard-michael-gramly

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 6

The fittest creatures, the innovators, the survivors —not necessarily the same, Part 2: Humanity, religion, and evidence By Tom Baldwin

In Part 1 (PCN #70, clearly re- March-April 2021), I peated pat- “We have no mentioned that of the tern , was Homo erectus many different types followed by DNA to com- of ‘hominids’ that many other have lived across equally skill- human history, only fully-engraved Homo sapiens is still artifacts also extant. I couldn’t dated in the help but wonder hundreds of why this was so. thousands of years. [We For one thing, let’s have covered be clear, we are rela- these earliest tive newcomers and, examples of by most popular Fig. 1. The well-dated 500,000 -year old engraved shell from human sym- accounts, we haven’t Eugene Dubois’ original H. erectus artifact collection (Trinil, bolism since been around that Indonesia, 1891). As I noted even back in 2015 ( The first artist , our very first long. Homo erectus , PCN #33), there can be little doubt, we are looking at the very same mental abilities that are exhibited in the far later issue of PCN . by comparison, was The problem around for nearly two (75,000 BP) , South Africa, engraved artifact. Photo by Wim Lustenhouwer, VU University of Amsterdam. is that even million years. Neander- though such pare with thals (probably a branch artifacts have that of off the Homo heidelber- long been Denisovian gensis tree—regarded known and by many a simple vari- and Hobbit acknowledged ant of Homo erectus ) by leading DNA. Who lasted some 400,000 experts they knows? If we years. So, we are still continue to be could com- far behind them both. sidelined by pare we The Denisovans and popular science publications. might learn the so-called Hobbits ( ) are Keeping evi- that they are very probably also off- dence like that one in the shoots of Homo erectus . in the public same.” That though, is conjec- eye is a main ture. We have no reason we Homo erectus DNA to formed the PC.] compare with that of Later, after the or Hobbit earliest sym- DNA. Who knows? If bolic artifacts we could compare we produced by might learn that they Homo erectus Fig. 2. Top: Three hand stencils Maltravieso Cave, Cáceres, Spain are one in the same. came the Ne- uranium/thorium dated 2018 to c. 64,000 years old, and so, are Until recently, main- now presumed . One dated over 66,000 years old anderthals and stream archaeologists making it the oldest yet known; AP (cropped). their now finally would have said all but Bottom: Ladder-like image, La Pasiega Cave, Cantabria, Spain being credited Homo sapiens were sub- dated over 64,000 years old now presumed Neanderthal (C Stan- with producing . They’d point dish et al ). For decades, mainstream archaeology has insisted cave art in the such expression could only be modern Homo sapiens . To this form of murals to their art and say, day it continues to ignore implications of the far older evidence and hand sten- “See, only Homo such as in Fig. 1, from Bilzingsleben and other sites in Europe, and from Mexico dated hundreds of thousands of years older. cils ( Fig. 2 ). sapiens did artwork, Likely right therefore only Homo sapiens was capable of done by none other than along with symbolic thought.” Homo erectus a half million the Neanderthals were the years ago ( Fig. 1 ). This al- Denisovians, doing both 2D Now, of course, we know ready skillful ‘beginning,’ where and 3D artworks thousands of that is not true. Instead we anyone can see well-executed years before Homo sapiens ever find the oldest artwork being parallel lines and even a > Cont. on page 73

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 7

The fittest creatures...humanity, religion, and evidence (cont.)

set out to draw a picture or seems we keep opening the tocene leading to full adulthood stencil a hand ( Fig. 3 ). door wider and wider on this was small. So, these ‘Venus’ track even to the point carvings as most believe were of changing the defini- likely fertility symbols, a propi- tion of what we mean tiation to the gods, a seeking for by men and women. a deity’s favor. A plea that the tribe’s females might be fecund As far as art goes, it and their children healthy. would seem to me that drawings In 2015, on cave National walls were Geo- more than graphic just our com- ancestors mented giving vent on the to a desire Fig. 6. The 75,000 -year old H. sapiens - artifact to paint engraved Blombos Cave ochre I demon- in Fig. 6 , pictures. I strated was 400,000 years ‘after’ H. erec- which I am one of tus ’ engravings in the race to symbolism. quoted in Fig. 3. Detail from a 44,000-year old hunting scene painted on a cave wall on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. The images were the school my 2015 possibly painted by Denisovans. Image source: Ratno Sardi. of thought there must article (link in Fig. 1). Rather have been a mystical than repeat the same long I think it likely Homo sapiens element of some kind to the quote again I only repeat the learned to do such things from depictions. Perhaps, for in- section that gets to the heart

their fellow humans ( Fig. 4 ), stance, the idea hunters felt and main point of this article. they gained some power Even though Nat. Geo. knew over the animals they about the 500,000-year old H. portrayed. Either way, erectus skillfully-engraved shell I believe this early art, in 2014, their 2015 article is an whether we are speak- example of how the mainstream ing of 3D art, engrav- keeps the credit from H. erectus ings on or shell, or and gives it to the 75,000-year engravings or paintings old engravings of anatomically on rock walls, was not modern H. sapiens instead: just ‘symbolic’ but was “Even more than the cave spiritual in nature. art these first concrete Whether the symbolic art expressions of conscious- was a product of religios- ness represent a leap from our animal past toward ity or visa versa, I am not what we are today—a spe- prepared to say. However, cies awash in symbols.” Fig. 4. Two animal bone fragments from northern China believed I think the two naturally to have possibly been engraved by Denisovans 100,000 years go together. Holding some National Geographic is well- ago. Photos by F. d'Errico & L. Doyon. sort of rite before a cave known to be a part of what painting of a horse be- keeps antiquated ideas such as groups of humans that, until fore you go out to hunt the Blombos-as-the-first-symbolism recently, had been regularly animal would seem to say you in the mainstream limelight. regarded as just a bunch of believe in things and powers Those of us who seek to grunting savages that sat you can’t sense but neverthe- understand the early human around fires at night tossing less believe must exist. groups who paved the way skulls into the air but who we in our history look past Nat. now realize may have been Symbolic thought, of course, Geo . et. al. to properly credit Homo sapiens ’ mentors. opened other new vistas for Homo erectus , the Neander- early man. As I mentioned, thals, and the Denisovans. Still, there seems to be a not only did they draw and natural need to draw a line paint, they sculpted things too. TOM B ALDWIN IS an award-winning somewhere. The traditional Some of the earliest carvings author, educator, and amateur tendency is to use symbolic were of what are popularly archaeologist living in Utah; an thought as the distinguishing called Venus figurines ( Fig. 5 ), early founder of the Pleistocene Fig. 5. The ‘Venus’ of trait that separates ‘man’ often of what in modern politi- Coalition; and writer and copy Cave, DE, from ‘non-man,’ a.k.a., editor for PCN the past 11 years. cally-correct terms depicted Links to all of Baldwin’s over 40 regarded in the main- ‘animals.’ However, the stream as the oldest high BMI buxom females that articles in PCN can be found at: carving yet question as traditionally were probably pregnant. One found, c. 35,000 BP. posed is rife with problems, imagines that the percent- http://pleistocenecoalition.com/ a lesson we keep learning. It age of births in the late Pleis- index.htm#tom_baldwin

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 8

Experimenting prehistoric art Animated sounds, colors and flames

By Dragoş Gheorghiu PhD, Professor, experimental archaeologist and artist

In recent decades , studies bolic connota- of prehistoric art in some tion. Fire sym- European painted bolizes the living, “Even for have brought several new and animates the the mod- perspectives on the tech- matter (Lat. Anima ern mind nologies for blowing pig- = soul). Fire can ments with the mouth also animate the (Chalmin et al . 2003), or of images on cave positioning images on the walls through surfaces of cave walls accord- successive illumi- ing to the acoustics of the nations similar to locations (Resnikoff 2006, the effect of film 2009; Fazenda et al . 2017). as I found in the drawings of lions The earlier color blowing and rhinos from experiments I performed using vegetable tubes and (Gheorghiu and showed that the proc- Nash 2007: 17). the flame ess of forming color spots by has a expiration can be accompa- New experi- nied by a sound emission ments strong (Gheorghiu 2019). Thus the symbolic creation of the images I pro- In May of 2021, connota- duced can be said to have I did a new set of Fig. 1. Blowing colors and sounds near a flame in a experiments. This tion. Fire been influenced by the cave. First of a five-image sequence documenting sounds and the good acous- time, I did them the dynamics of artwork, flame, and musical tones in symbolizes tics of the chosen place. in the darkness of the context of a performance rather than simply with the living.” a cave. I repro- an end goal in mind. Photo by Mihaela Motaianu. However, these experiments duce here five image to the artist and lacked a crucial context of images from a sequence ‘audience’ in the same much Paleolithic rock (Figs. 1–5). This set of very sense a live performance art, namely, the dark- similar though subtly different does. This contrasts a ness of the cave, as I photos is deliberately intended popular pre- had done these first to help put the sumption of experiments in a viewer into a cave art as be- brightly-lit shelter. The different ing created pri- performances of creat- frame of mind. ing images during Pa- marily for an leolithic times, on the Changing end product. I other hand, took place contexts is began to be- in the more subdued one of the come acutely and flickering light of advantages of aware of this lamps (Beaune and experimental relationship as I White 1993) and archaeology blew the color torches (Beaune 2000). as when I toward the This is an extremely moved my stone wall as important detail when experiments shown in the trying to understand into the dark- pictures. In ancient creative acts ened cave it order to illumi- Fig. 2. Second in a sequence through experiments. did not take nate the place documenting the dynamics of where the color artwork, flame, and musical Inside the caves the long for me to light of the flames was realize just was to be ap- tones. Photo: Mihaela Motaianu. Fig. 3. Third in the sequence. how comple- plied, the light the main element of a Photo: Mihaela Motaianu. creative ‘performance.’ The mentary the source had to light of fire is like a magical flame was for be very close act transforming matter! the act of creation. both to the wall and the blowing tube. In those mo- Even for the modern mind I can say that the flame ments the flame reacted the flame has a strong sym- animates and reveals an > Cont. on page 3 > Cont. on page 9

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 9

Experimenting prehistoric art (cont.)

violently to each exhalation 2001; with extended bibliog- visual motifs and acoustic that forcibly emitted air, raphy). So, then, what is response. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America sounds and color. new about this essay? 142: 1332-49. “In the I found that the movement I believe that experiments in Gheorghiu, D. same sense of the flame materializes the context demonstrate that 2019. Experimenting the art as any per- performer's breath not only prehistoric art is the result of of origins: Animating images by blowing colours and sounds. for the artist but with the a context-oriented experi- formance, In D. Gheorghiu and T. Barth artist as ence, difficult to transfer into (eds.), Artistic Practices and it is fas- performer words, because it tries to be Archaeological Research , pp. cinating for his an analogy of the living, of 93-97. Archaeopress Publish- to watch audience life, and represents an organic ing Ltd, Oxford. the unity as well. phenomenological experience Gheorghiu, D. and G. Nash. In the related to various physical 2007. Introduction— created same phenomena, including fire, Firemaker! In D. Gheorghiu between sense as and G. Nash (eds.), The ar- which plays a major role. chaeology of fire. Understand- the hu- any per- ing fire as material culture , pp. Prehistoric art is presented man formance, 13–26. Archaeolingua. Series it is fasci- as the result of a synesthesia Minor. Budapest. breath in which the visual part nating to Reznikoff, I. and the watch the represents only one aspect, 2006. The evidence of the use move- unity which should not be analyzed of sound resonance from Pa- created differently from the rest of laeolithic to Medieval times. In ment of C. Scarre and G. Lawson between the phenomena involved. A the shaman would agree with (eds.) , pp. the hu- 77–84. McDonald Institute flame, man this definition. Monographs. Cambridge. espe- breath References Reznikoff, I. Fig. 4. The flame animates cially as and the 2009. The sound dimension of and reveals an image to the move- Beaune, S.A. de, and R. White. the painted Palaeolithic caves. artist and audience. Photo: the flame ment of 1993. Ice Age Lamps. Scien- Cognitive Processing 10: 138. Mihaela Motaianu. tific American ap- the Monthly 266 proaches flame, (3): 108–13. especially as the flame ap- Beaune, S.A. De. and then de- PROFESSOR D RA- proaches and then departs 2000. Les GOŞ G HEORGHIU , parts with with each inspiration and techniques PhD, is a cul- each inspira- expiration. The fire becomes d'éclairage paléolithiques: tural anthro- tion and ex- at this moment a revealer of pologist, ex- the vital principle of life—i.e. un bilan/ piration.” Paleolithic perimental the breathing—and ofFig. the 3 . fromlighting Fig. 2 archaeologist colors and sounds. rotated to emphasizetechnics: its an and profes- symmetry . One initialoverview. idea my Paléo sional visual So how should we look at colleagues and I considered12: 19–27. artist currently prehistoric art? teaching at the (see Part Chalmin,1 ) was that E., M. Doctoral School In the modern world,arrangements we are like Menu,this might and represent ‘game boards.’ of the Univer- traditionally taught to see C. Vignaud. Whether yes or no,2003. there Analysis is a sity of Arts in images—including prehistoricwell-documented associationof rock art Bucharest, images—as simple, albeitbetween board gamespainting and and Romania. He skillful or beautiful drawings,mathematics. Whoevertechnology created of Fig. 5. I believe that experi- has conducted paintings or engravings.this would But certainly Palaeolithichave had a ments in context demonstrate advanced theo- painters. Meas- retical and we must also considersense the of mathematics. It is that prehistoric art is the result perhaps not surprisingurement that Sci- of a context-oriented experience. practical re- more complex experiences of ence and Tech- India also invented the most Photo: Mihaela Motaianu. search in the transfers and animations in nology 14: famous board game—Chess. study of prehis- 1590–97. the act of creating. ManyPhoto: Raghubir S. Thakur. toric pyro-, and approaches have merit, and Clottes J., and D. Lewis-Williams. acted as editor and co-editor of some very much so, accord- 2001. Les chamanes de la conference volumes on imagina- ing to what we wish to un- préhistoire , Paris, La Maison tion, prehistoric design, ancient ceramics, figurines, stamps, derstand. The particular as- des roches éditeur. architecture and place. pects of prehistoric art I am Fazenda, B., C. Scarre, R. Till, R. talking about here might Jiménez Pasalodos, M. Rojo Links to all of Dr. Gheorghiu’s best be approached from the Guerra, C. Tejedor, R. articles in PCN can be found at: Ontañón Peredo, A. Watson, perspective of shamanism. S. Wyatt, C. García Benito, H. http://pleistocenecoalition.com/ Of course, this concept has Drinkall, and F. Foulds. #Dragos_archaeologist_artist_pyro-techn 2017. Cave acoustics in already been proposed (e.g., prehistory: Exploring the Clottes and Lewis-Williams association of Palaeolithic

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 1 0

Mathematical rock art in old world India In special context to Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, Part 5: Animal associations and Conclusion

By Raghubir S. Thakur† MA (History), rock art researcher and preservationist

†Raghubir Singh Thakur Eds. Note: This final installment series I found passed away a couple of of Raghubir S. Thakur’s five-part I de- near months after submitting series was pulled together with scribed complex limited instructions as he passed the materials for his recent them in geo- away before being able to send any new text this far ahead. As a way metric mentioned earlier, Raghubir that patterns requested and entrusted PCN to kept all on the give him extra help (including the Fig. 2. One of the highly-weathered JNU animal off- smoothing things out) due to his possi- petroglyphs depicting an elephant or other possibly chance circumstances. We therefore keep bilities extinct proboscidean (elephant relative). In several some— this Part 5 and Conclusion brief open. instances these animals and others are associated albeit a and focus primarily on the photo- with the geometric petroglyphs featured in this distant graphs he sent. To better round One of series. Photo by Raghubir S. Thakur; detail. chance out Raghubir’s dedicated efforts the right up to the end, we include —might important facts and a conun- on the last page an appropriate be identified as ‘extinct’ ani- drum I reiterated several figure (Fig. 6) from his earlier mals that could put some pat- times involves India being 2016 article, Animal petroglyphs, terns in thought for possibly Delhi-Aravallis-System, India: Part 4 generally agreed to contain older dates. It makes sense if series+ in PCN . He was, of the Delhi-Aravallis series the world’s ‘oldest’ rock art rock art at the time, undergoing (PCN #43, Sept-Oct 2016), as by far. stage 4 cancer treatment. began it supports the point made in It con- As he wrote us then, most the article’s Fig. 5. so long sists of mainstream professors ago simple were apparently disinter- In Parts 1-4, I provided that ested in his JNU rock art cup- examples of rock art I dis- both discoveries or in helping marks covered and docu- animal and mented within the pictures en- Jawaharlal Nehru Uni- and graved versity campus of geo- lines Fig. 3. One of the complex geometric petroglyphs Delhi, India—a roughly metric within from Part 4, ‘Diagonals & polygons,’ only this time 1.6 square mile area I show it in its context with a Paleolithic-style animal pat- a site (Fig. 1 )—that could be petroglyph (upper right). Last issue, I referred to the terns complex considered mathemati- animal as a possible ibex. Photo: R.S. Thakur. would called cally. I have ap- show Bhimbetka. The oldest have proached the topic us- up some time pretty far back been given an astonishing ing simple geometric as well. The petroglyph ani- date range of 290,000– terms rather than fo- mals I discovered are very Fig. 1. The Aravallis mountain 700,000 cusing on what the rock worn but range, Delhi region northern India, years old. art (in the form of perhaps in where over decades time I have The problem petroglyphs) might the future documented many previously I noted is unrecorded rock art sites. represent. The prior some will be that if rock four installments were: found in art really improve his submissions Complex cup-mark pairs better condi- began so for mainstream publication (PCN #67, Sept-Oct 2020), tion making or proposal for a PhD in long ago then Game boards and beyond it easier to cup-marks (GPS-docked) we should (PCN #68, Nov-Dec 2020), identify as ‘not justified.’ We shared see some Cup-marks and pentagrams those that knowledge of competitive kind of reviewers and editors (PCN #69, Jan-Feb 2021), and might be of mathematics who plagiarize submitted Diagonals & polygons ( PCN long extinct after so many work while suppressing or #70, March-April 2021). animals. disparaging original sub- hundreds of Fig. 4. Close-up of the Paleolithic- missions (a documented Even though I mentioned millennia. style animal petroglyph from Fig. 3. Additional practice in UISPP, AURA that my colleagues and I I discussed Photo: Raghubir S. Thakur. Reference & IFRAO and its flagship considered that a number of this espe- Sahni, A., and publication RAR ). So, cially in Part 2, Game boards Thakur entrusted publi- these geometric-style petro- V.J. Gupta. 1982. Fossil elephants cation to PCN, correspon- glyphs including cup-marks, and beyond (see link above). from the Indian sub-continent and dence 2012+. Raghubir’s might represent some kind their tusks: A review. Journal of So, while most rock art is not the Palaeontological Society of passing is a great loss to of ‘games’—among many directly dated I provide rock researchers challenging India , 49, 169–88. other possibilities—in this art animal images ( Figs. 2–5) > Cont. on page 3 the dogma earlier peo- > Cont. on page 11 ple were not our equals.

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 1 1

Animal associations and Conclusion (cont.)

Acknowledgements I am grateful to my dear friend and popular museologist Virendra Bangroo, scholar, philosopher and very good guide. He was highly supportive and motivational dur- ing my visits accompanying me to several of the discovery sites and debating on various mysterious rock art designs. I am also deeply thankful to Dr. G. L. Badam and Dr. A. R. Sankhyan for their “It makes expertise and valuable input into sense if many aspects of the research. rock art Initial continuation of the research would not have occurred were it began so not for archaeologist Dr. K. N. long ago Dixit who, on hearing of my first discovery, took the time to visit that both the site and confirmed I was on animal pic- the right footing. I thank my close friends Shri Satish Jain and tures and Colonel Singh Raj Verma for their geometric broad understanding and encour- patterns aging me to cross-check evidence from a multidisciplinary approach would before finalizing any opinions on show up important finds. Finally, I thank all those who provided support over Fig. 5. This is the same complex square seen in Figs. 3, 4, some time the years giving me the strength and 6 of Part 4, ‘Diagonals & polygons.’ Here, I show it in its pretty far to hold true to the research. fuller context with one of the Paleolithic-style animal petro- glyphs. In the lower right , one can see what appears to be an back as THE LATE C APT . R AGHUBIR S. T HAKUR , elephant (or deer)-like mammal. Apart from modern elephant there well.” MA (History) was an ex-Army officer (Gazetted) with his last role were several extinct types living in the Indian sub-continent being Consult. for Sec. and Land including during the Pleistocene (A. Sahni et al . 1982. Fossil Mgmt. for the Archae. Surv. of elephants from the Indian sub-continent). Several sites with India under the Ministry of Culture fossils of extinct elephant relatives have been found in the and Tourism, Govt. of India. His region north of Delhi alone. Photo: Raghubir S. Thakur. responsibilities included protecting Nat. Gov.-listed Heritage proper- Fig. 3. Left: Very complex square petroglyph at JNU campus from ties including World Heritage Vivid creations by early man, Part 2 ( PCN #40, March-April 2016). monuments. The Security Cell was My focus is on the lower right corner showing trapezoids and trian- formulated and createdFig. by Tha-3 . Petroglyph fromgles. Fig. Photo 2 by R.S. Thakur. Right: Slightly different modern exam- kur’s persuasion of every rotatedDirec- to emphasizeple shows its the same trapezoids and triangles as the petroglyph. From tor General of the ASI forsymmetry over . One initialmath idea pagemy “Count the number of triangles and squares in the follow- 19 years. Over the years,colleagues Thakur and I considereding figure.” Toppr—Better Learning for Better Results; toppr.com. gained a broad knowledge of(see rock Part 1 ) was that art sites in the region beingarrangements first like this might to discover and document rockrepresent art ‘game boards.’ in Delhi. Thakur participatedWhether in 10 yes or no, there is a intl. archae. and envir. confer-well-documented association ences (1990–2012) presentingbetween board games and papers in India, Sweden,mathematics. and Whoever created Japan. He was Organizingthis Sec. would of certainly have had a the Asian Conference on Airsense Pollu- of mathematics. It is tion (1999). Thakur’s mostperhaps recent not surprising that presentation was at the JointIndia Ann.also invented the most Conf. of IAS, ISPQS, andfamous IHCS board game—Chess. (2015). Among others, ThakurPhoto: isRaghubir S. Thakur. associated with the discovery of an site near Ellora Caves (1992), megalithic Western Rajasthan (1997), cup- marks Siroli Dongari/Chhattisgarh Fig. 6. Lower Left and Upper Right: Two clearly visible mammal (2007), and nearly 100 cup-mark/ depictions on a large rock face (same as in Fig. 5) in JNU campus region, petroglyph sites Delhi-Aravallis Delhi, India. The rock face is rich with petroglyphs including geometric mountain range (2013–15). figures and cup marks. Inset: Dr. Gyani Lal Badam viewing the lower- most of the two figures. Dr. Badam is a leading paleontologist and Qua- Direct links to all of Thakur’s ternary geologist. He has studied fossils throughout India establishing the PCN articles can be found at Paleontology Dept. at Deccan College in Pune and is presently working with http://pleistocenecoalition.com/ the Indira Gandhi Natioinal Center for the Arts to establish connections #rock_art_in_delhi_india between the natural and social sciences. Photos: Raghubir S. Thakur.

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 1 2

Nine Men’s Morris —Thakur’s ‘game boards’ —Part 2: Alquerque By John Feliks

“The Merels In PCN #70 , inspired by its own whether by R.S. Thakur’s Part 4 article , geometers, designers, Board [Nine Diagonals & polygons, I sug- architects, or gamers. Men’s Morris]… gested that several game I found an uninten- when (not board designs (e.g., Fig. 1 ) tional description of considering and related versions of the such a process on a Nine Men’s Morris family of ‘mathematics’ page by Fig. 3. Comparing a petroglyph photo by its ludable Raghubir Thakur showing alquerque design game boards (e.g., Fig. 2 )— Chris Dallaire, in his use) survives minus the right triangular appendix on a known by dozens of names article, ‘Binary Trian- highly-eroded rock art panel in Delhi, India, as a recur- for centuries/millennia—may gle Trees for Terrain (as in his article, Game boards and beyond , rent decora- not have originated as game Tile Index Buffer Gen- PCN #68, Nov-Dec 2020) with an Incan tive element, boards but rather were the eration.’ It makes no ‘Taptana’ board scratched on a pre-Hispanic wall at Chinchero, near Cuzco, in the Peruvian Andes. apparently natural outcome of geometric mention of alquerque: exploration of squares. Although dating the Incan ‘graffiti’ to the 17th unnoticed “Recursively split- Century, renowned Spanish archaeologist, José but as a About possible histories ting triangles will Alcina Franch said it was related to pre-Columbian traditions and could not have come from either subliminal and non-game approach eventually use up all of the vertices Europe or Asia. Despite his reasoning others message.” The idea led me to research in a patch.” question Franch’s interpretation (e.g., del Solar Meza, César). Image: Franch 1976/1980. –The Merels the alquerque in a Without intending to, Board Enigma slightly non-traditional way, specifically looking for clues he gave a very good descrip- so happens Bruce Willis in both the historical past and tion of how the proposed played a Franklin Field security modern present for examples natural process might where the pattern is obviously take place. Fig. 4 not being used as a game shows his four basic board and also where those steps in picture form. using it were likely unaware of Popular culture its history as a game board. and architecture This was to serve as evidence that the cosmopolitan patterns While there could be (e.g., Fig. 3 ) need not have an architects’ book Fig. 1. Plain alquerque been imported or inspired by of favorite window game board . grilles or gratings, I am not aware of it. So, I was taken by surprise when—for no particular reason other than for a much-needed Fig. 5. There is no mistaking the alquerque break—I design in the sequences at Franklin Field, watched University of Pennsylvania, in the Bruce Willis back-to-back film Unbreakable . While it may be, it seems two com- unlikely the architect would have intended to pletely unre- symbolically represent alquerque game boards lated Ameri- at the historically famous stadium (Stills, fair Fig. 4. Using Chris Dallaire’s sequence to can films I’d use: academic commentary). show how anyone doing simple geometric not seen in explorations of the square (e.g., corner to years and both the guard at the University of Fig. 2. Morris board corner, side to side) will likely come to the Pennsylvania where there was Three Men’s Morris and then alquerque pat- Three Men’s Morris #s 3–7 contained and alquerque pat- no mistaking the alquerque within the alquerque terns as known throughout the world without terns jumped right pattern in the film’s Franklin pattern. Top: Game any necessity of influence. Gamasutra.com. Field sequences (e.g., Fig. 5 ). board for Three & Four off the screen. The two films were Unbreakable Men’s Morris. Bottom: other cultures but instead are Researching the design of the Game board Five & Six (Bruce Willis) and The Peli- so natural any culture would stadium I could find no refer- MM. Seven adds a center eventually discover/create the can Brief (Julia Roberts and cross and a centerpoint. very same patterns entirely on Denzel Washington). It just > Cont. on page 13

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 1 3

Nine Men’s Morris—Part 2: Alquerque (cont.)

ence to board games. While they The ubiquity of the two de- dating Thakur’s glyphs, etc., in could have seen the patterns signs at the E. B. W. Law the context of Indian rock art’s elsewhere, Library led me to consider known antiquity could provide a they could Marisa Uberti’s modern per- geometric exploration sequence just as spective on a related pattern at least for the region of India. well have in her 2012 book about Morris References designed boards, alquerque, etc., The Alcina Franch, J. 1976. Los grabados de them from Merels Board Enigma: With the Chinchero. En: Arqueología de Chinchero 2. scratch Worldwide Census ; she writes: Cerámica y otros materiales. Memorias seeking to de la Misión Científica Española en His- “Chapter IV is dedicated to the panoamérica. Ministerio de Asuntos Exteri- come up anthropological aspect… we’ll ores. Tomo III. pp. 7-26, Madrid, España. with attrac- consider how the Merels Board Alcina Franch, J. 1980. Juegos y ritual tive win- [Nine-Men’s Morris] has been funerario en Chinchero (Cuzco). In: dow grilles appropriately renewed… III Congreso peruano: El hombre y la cultura andina (31 de Enero-5 de that were when (not considering the Febrero 1977). Actas y trabajos . simple to ludible use) survives as a Segunda serie, IV. Lima: 441-456. recurrent decorative element, produce Dallaire. C. 2006. Binary Triangle yet distinc- apparently unnoticed but as Trees for Terrain Tile Index Buffer tive. They a subliminal message.” Generation. gamasutra.com. could have In researching followed a the history of sequence the E. Bennett like Dal- Williams Law laire’s—see Library I also prior page. Fig. 6. There is no mistaking the Three Men’s could not find Morris windows of the Edward Bennett Wil- The sec- any reference liams Law Library (Georgetown University, ond film’s to game Washington D.C.) in The Pelican Brief . Top : effect was boards. Like In one of the study rooms, protagonists played uncannily the Franklin by Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington Field Stadium, conducting research central to the film; reel- similar. A the architects librarians.com. Bottom: Technology help area central featuring a similar Three Men’s Morris window. theme in were likely Georgetown Law Library Virtual Tour. The Pelican just looking Brief is the for some- research the two protagonists thing effi- do at the famous Edward Ben- cient and nett Wil- plainly stated liams Law but at the Library, same time George- attractive and town Uni- distinctive versity, in with probably Washing- no intention ton D.C. to represent Three or symbolize Men’s Mor- game boards. ris and Conclusion alquerque Fig. 8. Distinctive external alquerque windows. Top: My purpose in windows, Detail from E. B. Williams Law Center Photographs planters, this article has labeled ‘Unknown author; no date.’ Bottom: Detail etc., are been to pro- student lounge. Georgetown Law Library Virtual Tour. found both vide perspec- tive and perhaps some evidence del Solar Meza, C., and R. Hostnig. 2006. inside and Litograbados indígenas en la arquitectura outside. the ongoing dilemma of tracing colonial del Departamento del Cusco, Figs. 6–8 a single origin for ‘Three’ Men’s Perú. En Rupestreweb, http:// show a few Morris or alquerque game www.rupestreweb.info/litograbados1.html. examples. boards may be due to the fact Depaulis, T. 1998. Inca Dice and they are designs that anyone Board Games. In: Board Game Stud- Again, I ies 1, pp. 26-49. believe it exploring the geometry of Thakur, R.S. 2021. Mathematical rock art unlikely squares would come across in old world India: In special context to there were naturally resulting in identical Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, Part 4: discoveries throughout the world Diagonals & polygons. PCN 13 (2): 6-7. Fig. 7. Alquerque windows and reliefs; George- any game town Law Library Virtual Tour. Top: Computer board without any need of spreading Uberti, M. 2012. The Merels Board Enigma: room detail. Bottom: External planters detail. intentions. from only one place. It seems With the Worldwide Census . Amazon AWS.

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 1 4

Member news and other info

Brian Cairns (a historian Evidence and rigorous inter- even plagiarize competitors’ who worked in IT for 30 years) disciplinary assessments of current work (well-known writes in support of behaviors in anthro- Tom Baldwin’s article pology), none of such last issue, The fittest game-changing evi- Quick links to creatures, the innova- dences support the main articles tors, the survivors—not 150-year old beliefs of in PCN #70 : necessarily the same mainstream advocates already completely P A G E 2 (PCN #70, March-April 2021) regarding un- Fig. 1. Modern-quality 50,000-year old complete disproved by the fact The fittest creatures, needle made out of bird bone by so-called there is “no” evidence the innovators, the dervalued capabilities ‘archaic’ humans—the Denisovans. Siberian Times . earlier people were less survivors —not nec- of the Denisovans and intelligent than us. The essarily the same other Middle to Upper finds like those at Denisova and way propaganda works in the Tom Baldwin Paleolithic humans. Dzudzuana (such as Cairns field in perpetuating this un- P A G E 4 ’s most interesting relates to Baldwin) and even substantiated belief is to Hyperbaric labora- comment—relating to mod- much more ancient finds keep all conflicting evidence tory experiments ern-level skills and intelli- such as those at Valsequillo away from the public . Taking preliminary results gence among human groups and Flagstaff in North Amer- a stand against these quali- Guy Leduc anthropology obstinately ica, Trinil in Indonesia, and ties of the field is part of why P A G E 6 promotes as evolutionar- Bilzingsleben the Pleistocene Coalition was Mathematical rock art ily inferior—involves the in Germany founded in 2009.] in India, Part 4: Denisovan are persis- Regarding the modern-level Diagonals & polygons made out of bird bone tently ig- Dzudzuanan and, by exten- Raghubir S. Thakur (Fig. 1 ). At 50,000 years nored, it is the oldest complete, sion, Denisovan capabilities P A G E 8 blocked from and so, confirmed , sew- the public, Cairns also emphasized: Nine Men’s Morris, ing needle. (While there denigrated, Thakur’s game boards “Harvesting flax is a very is an older bird bone —which came first? destroyed, high skilled task,” capping it ‘point’ from South Africa or so-called John Feliks with: “Of course, the aca- which is presumed to be “lost” by demics ignore this fact.” PAGES 10-11 & 18 a sewing needle it does well-known Member news & other info: not have an eye.) mainstream For prior discussion of these Archaeology of Link to PCN #70 anthropology topics, see Tom Baldwin’s article, Cairns suggests the nee- north-central Ohio organiza- Compelling new evidence dle was not used to Glen Boatman tions and Neanderthals were smarter like some Ivory artifacts of misguided than you think ( PCN #65, hunter-gatherers do but the Hiscock site, NY professional May-June 2020) detailing to sew “cloth.” He cited Richard Michael Gramly participants. what appears to be the oldest the much later-in-age Also Michael Cremo, Ray The above known twisted string or twine. recent discovery of flax Urbaniak, Xavier Bartlett facts are Citing the discoverers: fibers at Dzudzuana Cave documented, P A G E 1 2 in Georgia. The level “‘What we have found is a with refer- Camelops and where the find was made small fragment of a three-ply ences, in possible rock art is dated c. 35,000 years cord,’ said Hardy, adding it hundreds of footprint symbols old. Not only did the ar- was made from fibers that pages of Ray Urbaniak chaeologists discover flax come from the inner bark of PCN the past fibers but also that some some kind of evergreen tree. P A G E 1 4 Link to PCN #69 12 years. The Impact of Fossils , of the fibers had been ‘There are three bundles of Mapped Iberian rock art “dyed.” This suggests [Why does fibers that are twisted counter- & trilobites; Conclusion human groups were al- anthropol- clockwise, and then those bun- John Feliks ready wearing artificially- ogy have dles, once they are twisted, are P A G E 1 7 colored handmade cloth- this repu- twisted back the other way, clockwise, around each other to 10 years ago in PCN , ing even at that remote tation? Avoc. archaeology: ancient time. form a cord or string.’ At the Making photographs Apart from time of his find, Hardy was Note the two sites are only reflecting the working in layer 4.1 of the Virginia Steen-McIntyre 2,000 miles apart—a dis- self-interest deposits in the . Photographing tance that can be ‘walked’ of many That area has been dated small objects by the average person researchers 41,000–52,000 years old. No Dave McIntyre in about 27 days (see using the so- string or cord anywhere near The myth of millennial Link to PCN #68 called peer this age has been discovered migrations, Part 1, PCN #56, review sys- previous to this find.” Nov-Dec 2018, and Part 2 , tem (especially in its anony- PCN #57, Jan-Feb 2019). mous form) to hold back or > Cont. on page 15

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 1 5

Member news and other info (cont.)

Prior to Baldwin’s article, in PCN ing ‘figure stones’ at #42 (July-August 2016), originsnet.org. Keep clinical psychologist, these points in mind Terry Bradford , PhD, sent when submitting us additional game-changing pictures of finds: news confirming “early hu- Rule #1 We don't Prior to Bald- mans were just as intelligent consider surface win’s article, in as we are today.” A 40,000- sites if no way to PCN #42 (July- year old “-making tool” date them. August 2016), —a carefully carved well- clinical psy- preserved piece of mam- Rule #2 We are chologist, moth ivory ( Fig. 1 )—was looking for sites that Terry Bradford, recently recovered from have been independ- Hohle Fels Cave, in south- ently judged by a PhD, sent addi- western Germany—in layers geologist or archae- tional game- dated to the base of the ologist as potential changing news age” (N.J. archaeological sites. confirming Conard & M. Malina. Außer- Rule #3 Don’t send ‘early humans gewöhnliche neue Funde aus den aurignacienzeitlichen Schichten more than 10 images, were just as vom Hohle Fels bei Schelklingen. max size 250k. intelligent as Ar-chäologische Ausgrabungen Fig.1. From Member news and other info, in Ba-den-Württemberg 2016, Rule #4 Don’t send we are today.’ PCN #42. Top: 40,000-year old rope- pp. 61-66). only ‘faces,’ which A 40,000-year making tool , Hohle Fels, Germany demon- are easily cases of old ‘rope- Figure stone collecting strating human intelligence no different pareidolia (looking from that of modern people. Bottom: Fac- making tool’… takes a step backwards at clouds). simile showing how the tool was used to recovered from Attempted coercion of others make rope, University of Liege. Images Rule #5 A stone has Hohle Fels Cave must never be accepted in courtesy of the discoverer, Professor Nicho- to have demonstrable …Germany—in the scientific quest for truth. las Conard, University of Tübingen, Baden- working traces on it, Württemberg, Germany. layers dated to The participants in the action verified by geolo- the base of the briefly described above will not gist, archaeologist or some Aurignacian be named but the behavior, sort of methodology. damaging to collegiality and Feedback for Issue #70 age.” Further considerations: academic inquiry, and the fact it has been great for every- Artifacts need to have some appeared at all with someone in thing we published. Apart in situ context or have some the named community, needs to from Tom Baldwin’s fasci- kind of adhering surface be acknowledged (albeit, here, nating lead article that one residue which can be dated. anonymously) should it raise reader called “a joy to read,” Document the removal proc- its head again in the future. and Guy Leduc’s startling ess in some way. Do not experimental preliminary It was Dr. Virginia Steen- clean the artifacts. Once results growing horsetails McIntyre along with another solid stone objects are re- in comparative normal and PC founding member and moved from the ground and hyperbaric atmosphere’s, expert, Dr. James Harrod, cleaned of sediment any we received similar for the who cautiously proposed PCN hope of dating them no geometric rock art of India, give ‘figure stone collectors’ longer exists. Figure stones trilobites, and camel print an opportunity to present can be very subjective; one representations. We appre- finds in an academic context person’s ‘bird’ can be an- ciate your kind words to under certain stipulations . other person’s ‘human head.’ our efforts in bringing you Here is one of our many re- Because of this, we limit little-known and/or sup- minders as by 2013 the mat- ourselves at PCN to speci- pressed evidence, ideas, and ter had become problematic: mens collected from within a perspective you will not find sediment layer, preferably From PCN #24, July-Aug 2013: anywhere else. While we con- dated by other means, with tinue our efforts to get back on Note from Virginia Steen- photos of their removal. normal schedule after our great McIntyre and Jim Harrod Check back issues of the personal and editorship losses on ‘figure stones’ policy newsletter from a year or the past year, we invite you to two ago for examples.” “This is part of trying to raise view our Readers comments standards of scientific rigor for at the top of our homepage: We continue our openness to amateur collectors. We can at pleistocenecoalition.com times be overwhelmed with the many reputable collectors images, so we have adopted such as published in PCN over some important guidelines the years while maintaining from Dr. Jim Harrod regard- our focus on raising the bar.

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 1 6

American cheetah Striped tail Head By Ray Urbaniak Engineer, rock art researcher and preservationist

Jennifer Hatcher (see Rock art photographer Jennifer Hatcher ; PCN #69, Jan-Feb 2021), recently took another Front paws compelling photo in the Grand Canyon, Hind feet Striped and this time, while (bottom) speckled body on an explora- “This tion with Bill Woodland—an combined Emeritus pro- Outstretched paws detail evidence fessor at EMU— suggests e.g., see my a stunning article, Giant ground sloths and rethinking the life ex- date for the pectancy of pictographs rock art as (PCN #62, Nov-Dec 2019). the Ameri- The pictograph appears to can chee- show a large speckled cat tah is be- with striped tail raised lieved to over its back and clearly outstretched paws chasing have gone down a pronghorn (lower extinct right corner of the petro- 12,000 glyph) which is obviously years ago.” running away ( Fig. 1 ). Fig. 1. Top: Detail of photo recently taken in the Grand Canyon by rock There was a description art photographer Jennifer Hatcher. It appears to show a large speckled cat of the extinct American with striped tail/body , and outstretched paws chasing down a pronghorn cheetah on Facebook re- which is clearly fleeing. Compare with, Bottom: Modern artist’s depic- cently that seemed to un- tion of an extinct North American cheetah ( Miracinonyx ) hunting a cannily describe what is pronghorn antelope ( Antilocapra americana ) during the ; seen in the pictograph. © Michael Rothman 1997; Used with permission; Website: Rothman Here is an excerpt: Natural Science Illustration (https://www.rothmanillustration.com); image flipped for comparison to the rock art. Contrary to a long- “During the last Ice Age, restricted reputation imposed by the anthropology community, the docu- the extinct American mentary skills of early Native North American artists are, again, evident. Cheetah ( Miracinonyx trumani ) roamed the Colo- as belonging to a modern BTW, most readers are likely rado Plateau and sought cougar, which is closely unaware that the American shelter in various caves in related to the extinct cheetah migrated to Africa what is now Grand Canyon American Cheetah.” from North America just like National Park. It was the camel which I wrote https://www.facebook.com/ thought to be a major grandcanyonpaleontology/ about in the last issue of PCN , predator of the pronghorn posts/273901431113985?__cft__[0] Camelops and possible rock antelope, which may ex- =AZVFyJWVZr_UR1WcG0nwuClHQguj art footprint symbols (see gZowBOXlpUXOEAqsZ9faYsgf30ZXOVr plain why modern prong- cDw9TOZcRM79gm8dhMgADFRHWwN PCN #70, March-April 2021). horn antelope have evolved c8YqpBMzoyZ1e8Dm2b6a3wn59jn31N to run at higher speeds 2VFKckWlW_mv_YeGD2pXzA8KcCYUA dGla47N&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R RAY U RBANIAK , engineer by profes- than their predators today. sion, is a passionate amateur arche- This partial skull and upper Note that Rampart Cave is in ologist with many years of system- jaw of the American Chee- the Grand Canyon just like the atic field research in Native Ameri- tah was found in Rampart rock art. This combined evi- can rock art. He has written over 30 Cave, dating back to ap- dence suggests a stunning date articles on many topics with original rock art photography for PCN : proximately 11,000 years for the rock art as the Ameri- old. Early researchers mis- can cheetah is believed to have http://pleistocenecoalition.com/ takenly identified this jaw gone extinct 12,000 years ago. index.htm#ray_urbaniak

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 1 7

What to make of mainstream Clovis/Folsom dates?

By Ray Urbaniak Engineer, rock art researcher and preservationist

25 years ago when I lived “The Folsom culture takes its name from Bayesian Revision of the Folsom Age Folsom, . The artifacts re- Range Using IntCal20 ...2021. Pa- in I found a covered at this site included chipped flint leoAmerica 7(2): 133-44. “The age . I was blown points and a variety of other stone tools. for Colorado away, as I instantly knew it The remains of large mammals, par- The above Folsom dates pub- ticularly extinct varieties of bison, were lished in PaleoAmerica were Folsom had to be also found at this site. The remains date sent to me by Charles Koenig points 10,000–11,500 from 9,000 B.C.E. and 8,000 B.C.E. (or years old, since 11,000 to 10,000 years ago).” (a colleague of archaeologist is now I had read the Mark Willis who did the drone –Clovis and Folsom cultures. 2021. listed as age of Clovis http://nebraskastudies.org/en/pre- photography of my 30-feet 12,000– and Folsom 1500/first-human-residents/clovis- up Mammoth panel in Utah ). points at count- folsom-cultures/ 13,000 All of this brings us back to the less U.S. sites “Sometime around 10,800 Folsom point I found 25 years years old! for many years. years ago the Folsom culture ago in Colorado and knew it …The replaced the over most However, 25 of the western .” was 10,000+ years old. The problem years later, I age for Colorado Folsom points is that this –The Folsom culture. 2020. https:// is now listed as 12,000–13,000 was listening to a Zoom forums..com/forum/ is as old as lecture by Dr. David Melt- information-center-gc33/native- years old! That is as much as Clovis zer, PhD, hosted by Grant american-culture-lifestylegc108/ 2,000 years older than I had Zazula of the Yukon Berin- occupation-sites-archaeology- long believed. The problem which had gc111/123594-folsom-culture- gia Interpretive Centre and tradition-9000-bc-8000-bc is that this is as old as Clovis long been made a surprising observa- which had long been thought “Since then, stone tools have been thought of tion. Dr. Meltzer’s slide documented at numerous Clovis sites of as precursor to Folsom! as precur- showing the Younger Dryas dated between 11,050 and Note that this age increase (a brief cold period after 10,750 BC.” doesn’t even include the 71 sor to Fol- the climate began to warm years to cover the time since –Fluted points. 2019. https:// 1950 (the date chosen to rep- som!” c. 20,000 years ago) coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/ showed his Colorado Fol- fluted-points-0 resent ‘Before Present’ in the som site dating to more designation ‘BP’) until now. “Folsom people are early Paleoindian than 12,000 years old. hunter-gatherers who lived in the “Some researchers suggest… the Plains regions of North America from duration of Clovis could have been as I was then inspired to survey a 10,950 to 10,250 RCYBP (Haynes et long as 1500 years, based on model number of Folsom websites from al. 1992:96; Holliday 2000; Meltzer simulations... if so, Clovis first appeared 2006). The calibrated radiocarbon over 14,000 years ago.” which I got a very wide range of ages for Folsom range between dates. Many still say Folsom is 12,900 to 12,000 years BP .” –The age of Clovis—13,050 to 12,750 *Eds. note: only 11,000–10,000 years old. cal yr B.P. Science Advances 21 Oct One can understand wide date –Folsom land use patterns in the 2020:https:// See Dr. Virginia Central Plains. 2015. https:// advances.sciencemag.org/ variations when talking about Steen-McIntyre’s kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/ content/6/43/eaaz045 dates in the hundreds of thou- handle/1808/19492/ reprint the follow- sands of years , but when they Williams_ku_0099D_13889_DATA_1.pdf? However, it certainly sounds ing page about sequence=1&isAllowed=y are all practically in historical like these dates (and others George McJunkin times—such as these—one “In 2016, University of Wyoming besides) are constantly being discoverer of archaeologist Todd Surovell and his might expect a tighter agree- changed. So, I wouldn’t be the original colleagues analyzed a number of radio- ment. Below is an overview of carbon dates to determine that Folsom surprised if in another 25 years . stated Folsom culture ranges points, which have now been found my Folsom point went back to over much of North America, were being either 10,000 years old with the dates emphasized: made for some 400 years from about 12,600 years ago to about or in the opposite direction “Folsom is the name given to the to being older than Clovis. archaeological sites and isolated finds 12,200 years ago. ” that are associated with early Paleoin- dian hunter-gatherers of the Great –Why the Famous Folsom Point Isn’t a Plains, Rocky Mountains and American Smoking Gun. 2017. https:// RAY U RBANIAK , engineer by profes- Southwest in North America, between www.sapiens.org/column/curiosities/ sion, is a passionate amateur arche- about 13,000–11,900 calendar folsom-site-archaeology-science/ ologist with many years of system- years ago (cal BP). Folsom as a tech- atic field research in Native Ameri- “We applied Bayesian modeling…to nology is believed to have developed our updated set of Folsom dates… can rock art. He has written over 30 out of Clovis mammoth hunting strate- and estimate… sometime between articles on many topics with original gies in North America, which lasted rock art photography for PCN : dated between 13.3–12.8 cal BP.”* 12,845–12,770 calendar years ago (cal yr BP) and http://pleistocenecoalition.com/ –Folsom Culture and Their Projectile Points. 2018. https:// ending sometime between index.htm#ray_urbaniak www.thoughtco.com/folsom-culture- 12,400–12,255 cal yr BP.” ancient-bison-hunters-170942

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 1 8

Two back-to-back articles from PCN #24, July-August 2013 Forgotten heroes of archaeology: George McJunkin “Black cowboy” brings Native Americans into the Pleistocene

By Virginia Steen-McIntyre, tephrochronologist (volcanic ash specialist)

A couple of years ago I break wild horses. Then, at The chance to be foreman at mentioned the possibility 17, he signed on as a wran- a new ranch in the Dry Cim- of an occasional gler on a cattle drive to arron Valley brought George column in the Dodge City, Kansas. A few back to the land he PCN newsletter years later he had advanced loved. He had acquired a on archae- to “cowboy” status and fell in variety of books and instru- ology's forgot- with the Robards family who ments along the way— ten heroes ; the were moving a herd of guitar, violin, telescope—and man or woman horses along the Brazos a collection of rocks and who made the River. Gideon Robards of- minerals to sit next to the initial find that fered McJunkin year-round tattered Bible on a shelf in led to a major work breaking horses. He his bunkhouse room. archaeological took the job and moved with “While A killer flash flood swept riding discovery, only them to the Dry Cimarron to be pushed Valley of New Mexico, the through the area on August the into the back- “promised land” for 27, 1908, scouring the local side ground during all McJunkin. Dead Horse arroyo to a depth of over ten feet. While riding of the ar- the professional excitement and forgotten. In the Dry Cimarron George the side of the arroyo assess- royo as- made life-long Mexican ing the damage McJunkin sessing the While going through late- friends and was befriended spotted several large bones damage husband Dave's files, I re- by a white couple named projecting from near the base cently found an article on just Mingus. He read from the of the arroyo wall. He pulled McJunkin such a hero, George McJunkin Bible with Mrs. Mingus and one loose with a barb-wire spotted (Denver Post Empire , February later in Colorado, taught the cutter. It looked like a bison several 26, 1996), “The only black Robards boys to ride in ex- bone, only much big- large bones man in Union County ger. Digging out the New Mexico.” When other bones he projecting you think of the brought them home from near world-famous Folsom and displayed them the base of archaeological site, on his mantle. He the arroyo think of him! often spoke of them to his friends and wall.“ George McJunkin neighbors but no one 1851-1922 seemed interested.

According to the Years later George Denver Post article, mentioned the large George ( Fig. 1 ) was bones to a Raton born a slave on the blacksmith, Carl ranch of Jack Schwachheim, after McJunkin near Mid- noting a giant rack way, Texas in April, of elk antlers on 1851. The son of a display at his blacksmith, his father shop. He gave Carl had bought his own exact directions on freedom and was how to find Dead raising money to free Horse arroyo and his his family when on bone pit, then a 30 June 19, 1865, Union Fig. 1. George McJunkin, whose discovery near mile horse-back ride soldiers arrived to tell Folsom, New Mexico, made the science commu- from Raton. Nothing them blacks were nity aware that people were in the Americas at more was done at now free. least three times earlier than previously thought. that time. Apparently always a McJunkin fell ill in learner, George remained on change for lessons in reading 1921, apparently of a kidney the ranch three more years, and writing. “No reading no disease. He died March riding” was his policy. learning Spanish and how to > Cont. on page 19

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 1 9

Forgotten heroes of archaeology: George McJunkin (cont.)

“Human oc- 1922. It wasn't until several Museum of Nature and Sci- seen it named Bison an- months later that a group of ence) to make an expedition tiquuis mcjunkini ! cupation of amateur archaeologists in- to McJunkin's site.

the New cluding Three summer’s field work World Schwachheim VIRGINIA S TEEN -MCINTYRE , PhD, is a produced the proof that Fig- was motored from tephrochronologist (volcanic ash Raton to the gins had long sought for— specialist) involved in preserving pushed site in a Model A the presence of early man in and publishing the Palaeolithic evidence from Valsequillo since back Ford. They the area: stone tools and ice- the late 1960s. She is one of the to ... found George's age bison bones were discov- ered lying next to each other founding members of the Pleisto- bone pit just cene Coalition. Her story first 10,000 in the same clay layer. Human where he said came to public attention in Michael years it would be. occupation of the New World Cremo’s and Richard Thompson’s ago. That was the was pushed back to the end of book, Forbidden Archeology ...7,000 beginning. the ice age 10,000 years ago. (1993), and in the Bill Cote NBC That was 7,000 years earlier television special, Mysterious years It took four than any one had ever Origins of Man, hosted by Charle- earlier years for the thought possible. ton Heston (1996). Apart from being one of the core editors for men on that than Pleistocene Coalition News , Steen- trip to con- McJunkin's bison, an extinct any one had species, has been officially McIntyre keeps up with every vince Jesse Figgins of the topic under the sun especially as named Bison antiquuis fig- ever thought Colorado Museum of Natural related to lesser-known or forgot- possible.” History (now the Denver ginsi. I would rather have ten sites and archaeologists.

More on interpretation of animal petroglyphs By Ed Swanzey ment, attributes, or the direc- sense of “art for art’s sake,” tion of the subjects of as many people commonly The recent series by Ray Urba- “sentences.” Martineau's con- think of it, was not a part of This article is niak, Ice Age animals in South- clusions were tried in other daily life in these two tribes. from PCN #24 west U.S. rock art , Parts 1 & 2, contexts and appeared to For the ‘SKlallam and July-August provides some interesting food work. He concluded that the Suquamish nearly all of the 2013. for thought about the horned written language evolved—as art which they made (and still animal figures in American In- did the sign language—so that make) is a part of daily func- dian rock art. However, there is unrelated tribes with mutually tional use to the members of “Martineau another interesting interpreta- non-understandable languages that culture. But again, with believed tion that I would like to mention could have a common ground about 600 U.S. registered this petro- even though it certainly could to communicate. (A good tribes and nearly as many glyphic not be applied as a blanket friend, Carol Patterson, and I federally-unrecognized interpretation to all petroglyphs. spent some time on this sub- tribes, over-arching claims language ject. Carol took her PhD in cannot be made for them all. In a book called, The Rocks was based archaeology at James Cook Begin to Speak , the author, University in Australia, where For anyone interested in Ameri- on an ear- the late LaVan Martineau, she studied Australian Aborigi- can rock art in the sense dis- lier hand- suggested that the animals nal art. She is a well-known cussed here Martineau’s book in American rock art are not sign lan- interpreter of American rock art is a must read. It is rigorous simply representations of guage.” with two books on the subject.) reading but extremely valuable. animals. Martineau suggested ED S WANZEY is an amateur linguist who that the animals represent a As to the “art” part on the speaks several languages and dialects. sort of written language in subject of rock art in general, He has a deep interest in writing sys- which the figures and portions this is a topic that has been tems and is currently working with the Chinese Shang Dynasty characters. He of the figures are like adjec- discussed over and over in has an added interest in pre-Columbian tives in a readable, though anthropology literature and I transoceanic travel. Swanzey is a retired non-oral, language. Martineau will not bore by repeating any freelance editorial photographer and writer, and has worked with three believed this petroglyphic of the diversions here. How- Northwest Coast American Indian tribes, language was based on an ever, I will say that in my own recording cultural recovery efforts. He earlier hand-sign language. documentation work with the assisted the Suquamish tribe in Wash- ington in dig sites, and worked with ‘SKlallam and Suquamish The shape of the animals’ bod- Gus Gustafson on the Mannis Masto- tribes in the State of Wash- don dig. Two major anthropologists ies and horns are proposed by ington that the standard are Swanzey’s cousins, so interest Martineau to describe move- seems to run in the family.

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 2 0

10 years ago in PCN —Issue #12, July-August 2011

Avocational archaeology More on taking better photographs

By Virginia Steen-McIntyre, PhD (Volcanic ash specialist) This early revisit is provided as a quick In issue 10 of this newslet- keep them rolled instead of would be best.) Mount it follow-up to last issue’s ter ( PCN , March-April, 2011 ) folded to prevent wrinkles. somehow so that it is a cou- Making photographs by we had a short article by Velvet has a matte finish ple of inches above your Virginia Steen-McIntyre Dave McIntyre on how to and will not reflect your background velvet and par- and Dave McIntyre. photograph lithic artifacts light sources back into the allel to it. Place your speci- using a digital camera and a camera. men on it. When you take computer. your shot (with scale!), the Slick and Multiple specimens: Good background will be out of relatively for your reference file, but focus so that any wrinkle or easy, with not that great for an illus- lint won't distract from the excellent tration—too much informa- specimen and your shadow results. tion. Best to use one, or if problem should be minimal. But 50 you are doing a comparison, Just watch for ‘burn’ spots years ago two or three pieces (with on the glass caused by the (BC— metric scale! i.e. showing reflection of your light before millimeters as this is the sources. com- modern standard for sci- puters) we ence). Also, point out ex- Color contrast between still were actly what is the compari- specimens: Say you want able to son you are making be- to compare the flake scars take excel- tween the specimens. on two specimens in the same photo, one ‘white’ and Fig. 1. How ‘not’ to photograph stone tools or lent shots. Distant view: Doesn't give “lithics.” Example ued with permission of the one ‘black.’ How can you do The meth- much information about an photographer, Ricky Bobby. ods had it? Your shot will be under- individual piece. Take a exposed for one and/or evolved vertical shot to out dis- over decades and, while overexposed for the other. tortion (may need a tripod There is (or was) a method “Take a more time consuming, can to hold the camera) and get be used just as well today. called ‘fuming’ that I've vertical shot in close so that the speci- heard of but never have to cut out Fig. 1 has been contributed men (with metric scale!) tried. (Can any of our read- fills most of the screen. distortion by ‘Ricky Bobby,’ the young ers supply details about this son of a member who used technique?) You put your (may need a Lack of metric scale: The his cell phone to show us lack of a scale can really specimens in an airtight box tripod to how not to photograph his give a distorted picture of a along with an open dish hold the dad's lithic artifacts. Note piece! Are we looking at a each of ammonia and hy- camera) and the busy background, multi- point or a bird point? drochloric acid. The vapors ple pieces, distant view, from the two dishes com- get in close A or a micro-flake? lack of a metric scale, shad- And metric instead of inches bine and form a white pre- so that the ows, sharp contrast be- because that's how most of cipitate which settles out on specimen tween the various colored the world measures things, everything inside the box, (with metric specimens. These are all and our newsletter goes out including the artifacts. The problems that need to be worldwide. flaking detail shows up very scale!) fills addressed in order to have well because the colors of most of the a professional-quality Shadows: Shadows can the original rocks are screen.” photo. Some suggestions on distort an image. To mini- masked. The precipitate is how to solve these types of mize them, shoot vertically water soluble and can later problems are given below: and use two or more light be washed away. sources, coming from differ- Background: Purchase a ent angles. Take a clean Any questions? Comments? yard each of white, light sheet of glass, perhaps a gray, and black velvet or piece of window glass or similar fabric. Keep them one taken from a picture protected from dust and frame (frosted or non-glare

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 P A G E 2 1

 Learn the real story of our Palaeolithic ancestors—a story about intelligent and innovative people—a story which is unlike that promoted by mainstream science.

The  Explore and regain confidence in your own ability to think for yourself regarding human ancestry as a Pleistocene Coalition broader range of evidence becomes available to you.

 Join a community not afraid to challenge the status quo. Question with confidence any paradigm Prehistory is about to change promoted as “scientific” that depends upon withholding conflicting evidence from the public in order to appear unchallenged.

PLEISTOCENE COALITION CONTRIBUTORS to this Pleistocene Coalition NEWS , Vol. 13: Issue 3 ISSUE News is produced by the (May-June) Richard Michael Gramly Pleistocene Coalition © Copyright 2021 bi-monthly Dragoş Gheorghiu since October 2009. PUBLICATION DETAILS Tom Baldwin Back issues can be found EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/LAYOUT Brian Cairns near the bottom of the John Feliks PC home page. Ray Urbaniak

Michael Rothman To learn more about early COPY EDITORS/PROOFS man in the Pleistocene visit Tom Baldwin Jennifer Hatcher our website at Richard Dullum Raghubir S. Thakur (posthumously) pleistocenecoalition.com SPECIALTY EDITORS James B. Harrod (reprint) James B. Harrod, Rick Dullum, The Pleistocene Coalition cele- Matt Gatton Ed Swanzey (reprint) brated its eleven-year anniversary Virginia Steen-McIntyre September 26, and the anniver- sary of Pleistocene Coalition News , ADVISORY BOARD (several reprints) October 25. PCN is now in its Virginia Steen-McIntyre John Feliks twelfth year of challenging main- stream scientific dogma.

PLEISTOCENE COALITION NEWS