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Plains Indian biographic rock art can be “read” by those knowledgeable in its lexicon. Presented is a lexicon of imagery, conventions, and symbols used by Plains Indians to communicate their warfare and social narratives. The reader is introduced to Plains Indian “warrior” art in all media, biographic art as picture writing is explained, and the lexicon is described, providing a pictographic “dictionary,” and explains conventions and connotations. Finally, it illustrates four key examples of how these narratives are read by the observer. Familiarity with the lexicon will enable interested scholars and laypersons to understand what are otherwise enigmatic rock art drawings found from Calgary, Alberta through ten U.S. states, and into the Mexican state of Coahuila.
“Keyser and Kaiser’s book compiles widespread Biographic rock art information into one source in a form that is easily useable. This is an significant reference for the field of rock art research, and it is an important document for educating the greater public that rock art can be deciphered and understood today…” • Mavis Greer, Greer Archaeology
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Preface
Chapter 1. Biographic Art as Picture Writing
Chapter 2. The Biographic Art Lexicon
Chapter 3. The Pictographic Dictionary
Chapter 4. Conventions and Connotations
Chapter 5. Reading the Narratives
Glossary
Appendix I: Site Names and Numbers for number of Figure 1.1, North and South Halves
Appendix II: Source Materials and site index for illustrations
Bibliography
Index