A Field guide to rock art symbols of the greater Southwest

Patterson, a knowledgeable, dedicated nonprofessional, has organized his extensive survey of literature on interpretation of rock art symbols from sites in the "Greater Southwest," to produce a unique field guide covering California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, northern Mexico, and a few sites in Nevada, Texas, and Colorado. His purpose is to enable a novice to study the guide's illustrations of rock art elements and motifs; then, while viewing a rock art panel firsthand, to identify specific symbols and associated interpretations. Identification and meaning are derived from published reports. Individual symbols are indexed alphabetically in three different formats: (1) "Finders," a pictorial key of sketches or photographs, divided into "Humanlike," "Animallike," and "Abstract" categories; (2) two-column lists matching "Ascribed Meaning" with related "Symbol Descriptions"; and (3) the most complete format, a 172 page section titled "Rock Art Symbols," with diverse illustrations of each specific symbol from various sites, and concomitant information from cited references on meanings or multiple interpretations and, where available, cultural affiliations. An extensive bibliography covers the cited literature and other sources. This could be a useful introductory guide if proper precautions are observed, as not all of the ascribed meanings are unquestionable, proven interpretations. The author, himself, suggests interpretive caution in his introduction. H. H. Schuster; emerita, Iowa State University