Rock Art Stability Index

Field Study

Niccole Villa CervenyMesa Community College

Niccole Villa CervenyMesa Community College

What is Rock ArtWhat is Rock Art

Petroglyphs - images pecked or scratched into rock surfaces

Pictographs - images painted on rock surfaces

Rock Alignments/Geoglyphs - rocks placed in alignment to form images

Intaglios - removal of desert pavement to create images on the ground

Petroglyphs - images pecked or scratched into rock surfaces

Pictographs - images painted on rock surfaces

Rock Alignments/Geoglyphs - rocks placed in alignment to form images

Intaglios - removal of desert pavement to create images on the ground

PetroglyphsPetroglyphs

N. Cerveny © 2005

PictographsPictographs

J McFaul © 2002

Geoglyphs/rock alignmentsGeoglyphs/rock alignments

N. Cerveny © 2005

IntagliosIntaglios

N. Cerveny © 2005

So why do we need a rock art panel stability index?

So why do we need a rock art panel stability index?

Weathering/Erosion Refresher

Weathering/Erosion Refresher

Geomorphology - study of the changing shape of the earth

Weathering - the breakdown of rock “in situ” (in place)

Erosion - the transport of weathered material

Weathering is the beginning to changing the shape of the earth

Geomorphology - study of the changing shape of the earth

Weathering - the breakdown of rock “in situ” (in place)

Erosion - the transport of weathered material

Weathering is the beginning to changing the shape of the earth

Rock Art Stability IndexRock Art Stability Index Setting the stage

of the landscape Stone preparing

for detatchment Incremental loss

of stone material Loss of chunks

(break-off of stone)

Rock Coatings

Setting the stage of the landscape

Stone preparing for detatchment

Incremental loss of stone material

Loss of chunks (break-off of stone)

Rock Coatings

Character ValueCharacter Value

Examine a panel for each weathering form, then score 0 to 3 O = not present 1 = Barely noticeable 2 = Obvious 3 = Very Serious Concern ***There are no 1/2-sies

Examine a panel for each weathering form, then score 0 to 3 O = not present 1 = Barely noticeable 2 = Obvious 3 = Very Serious Concern ***There are no 1/2-sies

Setting the Stage:Fissures & Rock Weaknesses

Setting the Stage:Fissures & Rock Weaknesses

Fissures independent of stone lithification

Fissures dependent on stone lithification

Changes in textural anomalies

Rock weaknesses (Moh’s)

Fissures independent of stone lithification

Fissures dependent on stone lithification

Changes in textural anomalies

Rock weaknesses (Moh’s)

Preparing for DetatchmentPreparing for Detatchment

Fissuresol future location

Roots Plant growth near or on

panel Scaling Splintering Undercutting Weathering-rind

development Other forms indicating

future detachment

Fissuresol future location

Roots Plant growth near or on

panel Scaling Splintering Undercutting Weathering-rind

development Other forms indicating

future detachment

Loss of stone material incrementally

Loss of stone material incrementally

Abrasion from sediment

Anthropogenic cutting Aveolization Crumbly Disintigration Flaking Granular disintigration Loss parallel to stone

structure Lithobiont Pitting

Abrasion from sediment

Anthropogenic cutting Aveolization Crumbly Disintigration Flaking Granular disintigration Loss parallel to stone

structure Lithobiont Pitting

Lith release of Wx-rind “dam”

Rock Coating Detachment

Rounding of Glyph Edges

Scaling Textural anomalies

erode differently Splintering Other forms of

incremental loss

Lith release of Wx-rind “dam”

Rock Coating Detachment

Rounding of Glyph Edges

Scaling Textural anomalies

erode differently Splintering Other forms of

incremental loss

Loss of Stone by breaking-off chunks

Loss of Stone by breaking-off chunks

Anthropogenic Activity

Fissuresol/calcrete wedging

Fire Undercutting Other natural

causes of break-off

Anthropogenic Activity

Fissuresol/calcrete wedging

Fire Undercutting Other natural

causes of break-off

Rock Coatings & Other Deposits

Rock Coatings & Other Deposits

Anthropogenic Rock Coatings Case Hardening* Efflorescence/

Subflorescence

Anthropogenic Rock Coatings Case Hardening* Efflorescence/

Subflorescence

Rock CoatingsRock Coatings

Dust Coatings Droppings Heavy Metal Iron Film Lithobionts Oxalate Rock Varnish Silica Glaze Unclassified Combinations of different types

Dust Coatings Droppings Heavy Metal Iron Film Lithobionts Oxalate Rock Varnish Silica Glaze Unclassified Combinations of different types

South Mountain

Municipal Park

Box Canyon

Central Entrance

Metro-Phoenix

(Granite)

Deer Valley Rock Art Center, Metro-Phoenix (Basalt)

Grand Canyon, Tanner Rapids (Sandstone)

Waterfall Canyon, Metro-Phoenix Whitetank Mountains (Granite)

Homolovi Ruins, Northern Arizona (Sandstone)

Tempe Butte Site (Andesite)