Making pictures in stone : American Indian rock art of the Northeast /

In what is in reality a companion volume to his Picture Rocks: American Indian Rock Art in the Northeast Woodlands (CH, Sep'03, 41-0398), archaeologist Lenik discusses rock art not included in that earlier work, providing an interpretation of the symbolism represented in both prehistoric and historic pictographs and petroglyphs of eastern North America. He discusses why rock art sites are not prevalent throughout the landscape--historic evidence indicates the carving of pictographs on trees that did not survive. Lenik also provides a fascinating discussion from archival sources of Ezra Stiles, who in the 18th century illustrated rock art of southern New England. The author describes 12 pictograph and petroglyph sites and discusses cup and grooved bedrock features as well as geoglyphs, one of which from Pennsylvania he interprets as a buffalo effigy. Six chapters focus on portable objects with petroglyphs, sculpted animals, or human figures, including pendants and gorgets; decorated tablets, pebbles, and cobbles; sculpted heads and effigy faces; decorated stone tools; and nonutilitarian effigy stones. A welcome addition to the corpus of known rock art in this vast region that, coupled with his earlier book, represents the most comprehensive study of the rock art of northeastern North America. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries. J. B. Richardson III emeritus, University of Pittsburgh