Join local geology and archaeology enthusiast David Bouquet for a free public lecture titled “ Southwestern Native Rock Art” on Tuesday, May 19, in the Community United Methodist Church’s fellowship hall, located at 434 Lewis St.
The doors will open at 5:45 p.m., and the lecture will begin promptly at 6 p.m.
This engaging presentation will introduce attendees to the various types of rock art, showcasing some of the oldest known examples from around the globe.
Bouquet will then guide the audience through a visual journey of Puebloan rock art sites across the American Southwest, with a map highlighting their presence in monuments, national and state parks, and lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
The lecture will also delve into the important work of the Northwest New Mexico Site Steward Program, which helps protect culturally significant locations that lack formal preservation. Attendees will be treated to stunning photographic examples of rock art panels from prominent sites including Hovenweep National Monument, Bears Ears National Monument, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chaco Culture National Historic Park and Mesa Verde National Park.
Bouquet will also reflect on the irreplaceable Puebloan and Navajo rock art lost during the creation of Navajo Lake in 1962. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of potential rock art at Chimney Rock National Monument.
A short Q-and-A session will follow the approximately one-hour lecture.
Bouquet has volunteered at Chimney Rock National Monument for the past five years. He holds degrees in geology from Louisiana State University and the University of Kansas, with a focus on sedimentary rocks. His passion for the connection between geology and archaeology has driven him to explore numerous Puebloan petroglyph sites throughout the Four Corners region.
This event is free and open to the public. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the fascinating history etched into the stone landscapes of the Southwest.
The lecture is free to attend; however, donations are welcome. Additionally, canned goods for the church’s food pantry are greatly appreciated.
The Chimney Rock Interpretive Association’s (CRIA’s) free Lecture Series offers the opportunity each year for the public and CRIA volunteers to enjoy a speaker whose topic typically relates to southwest archaeology, archaeoastronomy and/or Chacoan culture.
CRIA and the San Juan National Forest of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, are working in partnership to preserve and develop educational opportunities about the significant archaeological, cultural, geological and biological resources at Chimney Rock National Monument.
CRIA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer association and receives no funding from the U.S. government. For more information, see the CRIA website at www.chimneyrockco.org or call (970) 731-7133.
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