18 October 2022 - AMAZING INDIGENOUS PETROGLYPHS IN NEVADA

 

AMAZING INDIGENOUS

 PETROGLYPHS IN NEVADA

G'day folks,

Welcome to one of the few remaining indigenous petroglyph sites in Nevada. 

 The petroglyphs at Mt. Irish are one of the few indigenous sites found in Nevada that give visitors an important look into the people that lived in the region since roughly 1000 B.C.

 

The petroglyphs, pottery shards, and other items found at the site are believed to date back to between 1 and 1500. The petroglyphs are carved into the rocks, where the so-called desert varnish is removed from the stone to reveal brighter colored rock beneath. Most of the drawings are of bighorn sheep, which are thought to have been a staple food for the indigenous cultures. There are also drawings of people and abstract symbols such as water and spirals.

In many ways, the site is similar to the Yerbas Buenas petroglyph site in northern Chile. This site, which is over 4,000 miles away is situated in a similar low-lying rock formation and is covered with petroglyphs of llamas and people. This suggests that not only these people were distantly related, but also that their culture remained mostly the same during their long migration southward.

 

6 October 2022 - ANCIENT PETROGLYPHS IN UTAH, USA

 

ANCIENT PETROGLYPHS

 IN UTAH, USA

G'day folks,

Welcome to a unique collection of drawings that represent Fremont Native American culture. 

These beautifully preserved petroglyphs are just north of Vernal, at McConkie Ranch in Dry Fork Canyon. These panels cover 200 feet along a cliff face in the Navajo formation. It’s believed the petroglyphs were crafted somewhere between 1-1200 CE. They are excellent examples of Fremont Native American culture. 

 

The images include various people and symbols along with large renditions of the various animals that populated the region. Many are also numbered, detailing where various archaeologists have worked across the site. 

The petroglyphs can be easily reached by several trails with signs and ropes that mark the way. The trails are easy to traverse. The entire trek is just over a mile hike roundtrip.  

15 September 2022 - LAAS GEEL - SOMALIA

 

LAAS GEEL

 - SOMALIA -

G'day folks,

This cave located in the badlands of Somaliland contains some of the oldest cave art in Africa.  

The Laas Geel caves and their marvelous contents have been known to locals for many years. However, they remained relatively unknown to the rest of the world until 2002. That year, a team of French archaeologists conducted a survey and documented the various cave paintings across the site.

 

They discovered that the amazingly well-preserved paintings displayed both humans and animals; mostly dogs, cows, giraffes, antelopes, monkeys and possibly hyenas. Some of the researchers belonging to the team believed the cows represented divinity, as many of the paintings displayed them wearing robes. Several scenes also depict what appears to be humans worshipping cow-like figures and a woman caring for a dog. There have been difficulties in dating the paintings, but they are believed to be between 5,000 to 11,000 years old.

Laas Geel is located within the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, just a few kilometers from the Hargeisa-Berbera road. Sadly, due to a lack of international recognition of the Republic, Laas Geel does not benefit from international funding or protection. The cave and dozens of other archaeological sites across Somaliland are vulnerable to looting and degradation from a lack of preservation. 

 

10 December 2021 - CROW CANYON PETROGLYPHS - NEW MEXICO

 

CROW CANYON PETROGLYPHS

 - NEW MEXICO -

G'day folks,

Welcome to one of the American Southwest's most extensive collections of Navajo rock art. 

This rocky swath of land in New Mexico is home to an abundance of archaeological ruins. The Crow Canyon Petroglyphs in particular are said to be the American Southwest’s most extensive collection of Navajo rock art from the 16th through 18th centuries. 

The Crow Canyon Archaeological District is a remote and relatively obscure area in the heart of Dinétah, which is the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Navajo people. The foundations for the Navajo culture were well established in the area, dating back as far as the year 1100. The Navajo lived within Dinétah until about the late 1700s, when they were forced to abandon it and move elsewhere because of pressure from the Ute people and encroaching Spanish settlers.

The artwork in Crow Canyon preserves traces of the people who once called the land home. Most of the petroglyphs are clustered into “panels” carved predominantly within the canyon’s south-and-east-facing walls. Gazing upon them is like viewing a gallery full of hundreds of stylized animals, people, crops, weapons, and supernatural beings.

 

 Because the petroglyphs appear similar to Navajo ceremonial sand paintings, archaeologists believe these were likely linked to a ceremonial purpose as well. You’ll also see much older Ancestral Puebloan rock art intermingled with the Navajo petroglyphs.

In addition to petroglyphs, Crow Canyon contains several Navajo pueblitos (archaeological ruins), built in the 16th and 17th centuries. They are, for the most part, less accessible than the petroglyphs.

Today, the Navajo Tribe is the largest Native American tribe in the United States, with more than 250,000 members.

Clancy's comment: Stunning pictures. 

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30 June 2021 - IRAKLI NADAR'S HYPER-REALISTIC ART

 

IRAKLI NADAR'S

 HYPER-REALISTIC ART

 

G'day folks,

The domain of artistic realism used to belong to just a handful of incredibly talented masters, such as Caravaggio, Gustave Courbet, and William-Adolphe Bouguereau.

 However, thanks to the powerful strides that modern technology has recently taken, art has become a lot more versatile and accessible. As a result, new art forms are constantly coming into being, such as the art of digital painting. 

The gallery below contains some of the accomplished digital artist, Irakli Nadar's most spectacular and realistic works that completely redefine the concept of realism.

Clancy's comment: Extraordinary talent. Thank you, Irakli.

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1 February 2021 - VINCENT BAL'S AWESOME SHADOW DRAWINGS

 

VINCENT BAL'S AWESOME 

SHADOW DRAWINGS 

G'day folks,

 

Vincent Bal is a Belgian filmmaker and illustrator with a knack for creating art within the confines of long shadows. He uses everyday objects resting in the sunlight, then lets his imagination run free. For instance, the shadow of a film canister can turn into a forbidding tower, or a light bulb's filaments can turn into a backdrop for a daring escape. Take a look at this artist's amazing work:

Clancy's comment: Very clever.

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