The Canadian landscape is adorned with rock carving Alberta created by the Blackfoot tribe. Carved into the rocks are a variety of animals such as wolves, buffalo, bears, snakes, and birds. More than that, there are intricate geometric shapes showing that these rock outcroppings were regarded as sacred sites, and were used for meditation and worship.
Cave paintings are another art form which these ancient tribes used to tell their story. They created their paints by mixing a mineral called red ocher with the fat of animals they hunted. These pictoglyphs and carvings can still be seen on the sandstone cliffs, preserved for thousands of years.
This form of art is created by etching the sandstone with harder stones, bones, and later pieces of metal. Sandstone was probably used because it is softer than other rocks in the area, but the art work has lasted a surprisingly long time. Even with the erosion of wind and rain, these pieces remain as a testament to an ancient way of life.
These native tribes believed the physical world was strongly connected to the spiritual realms, and that these worlds were just as real as the world they lived in. There was also a belief that animals were spiritual beings. Many of the sketches of animals may well have been their way of honoring the spirits of the animals who provided them with their food.
The offspring of these tribes still have a strong connection to the spiritual world, and they regard these carvings as a treasure. It keeps them connected spiritually to their ancestors. Most Westerners now do not have such an attachment.
Some of these carvings are believed to be as much as three thousand years old. There are some carvings which are clearly more recent, dating back to around the sixteenth century when the European settlers first came to the region. There are carvings of horses and guns, which are clearly items brought to the Blackfoot by the Europeans.
So many archaeological sites have been destroyed over the years through large-scale construction projects. Humanity will never know just how much history has been lost due to careless habits of construction companies, more concerned for profit than preservation. It is important that those who find these sites take immediate measures to ensure that they are appropriately preserved and given over to archaeologists for study.
Laws have been passed in Canada to preserve the artwork etched into the sandstone cliffs. Due to some episodes of vandalism which have occurred, one can now be fined up to $50,000.00 if they are caught defacing the art. Archaeologists are still studying these monuments in an attempt to fully translate the symbols in order to have a greater understanding of the history of the region.
The Canadians feel very strongly about preserving the rock carving Alberta for future generations to study and enjoy. Not only that, but the remnants of the native people have a strong connection to this land. There is a rich and poignant history surrounding these areas, and the ancient art keeps modern humans connected to their tribal past.
Cave paintings are another art form which these ancient tribes used to tell their story. They created their paints by mixing a mineral called red ocher with the fat of animals they hunted. These pictoglyphs and carvings can still be seen on the sandstone cliffs, preserved for thousands of years.
This form of art is created by etching the sandstone with harder stones, bones, and later pieces of metal. Sandstone was probably used because it is softer than other rocks in the area, but the art work has lasted a surprisingly long time. Even with the erosion of wind and rain, these pieces remain as a testament to an ancient way of life.
These native tribes believed the physical world was strongly connected to the spiritual realms, and that these worlds were just as real as the world they lived in. There was also a belief that animals were spiritual beings. Many of the sketches of animals may well have been their way of honoring the spirits of the animals who provided them with their food.
The offspring of these tribes still have a strong connection to the spiritual world, and they regard these carvings as a treasure. It keeps them connected spiritually to their ancestors. Most Westerners now do not have such an attachment.
Some of these carvings are believed to be as much as three thousand years old. There are some carvings which are clearly more recent, dating back to around the sixteenth century when the European settlers first came to the region. There are carvings of horses and guns, which are clearly items brought to the Blackfoot by the Europeans.
So many archaeological sites have been destroyed over the years through large-scale construction projects. Humanity will never know just how much history has been lost due to careless habits of construction companies, more concerned for profit than preservation. It is important that those who find these sites take immediate measures to ensure that they are appropriately preserved and given over to archaeologists for study.
Laws have been passed in Canada to preserve the artwork etched into the sandstone cliffs. Due to some episodes of vandalism which have occurred, one can now be fined up to $50,000.00 if they are caught defacing the art. Archaeologists are still studying these monuments in an attempt to fully translate the symbols in order to have a greater understanding of the history of the region.
The Canadians feel very strongly about preserving the rock carving Alberta for future generations to study and enjoy. Not only that, but the remnants of the native people have a strong connection to this land. There is a rich and poignant history surrounding these areas, and the ancient art keeps modern humans connected to their tribal past.
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