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12 Friends oF red rock canyon

Our Neighbors (Continued from page 11)

public and to assist local the postal service to
government agencies in earn a master’s degree
the preservation, protec- from the University
tion and study of rock art of Nevada Las Vegas
in Southern Nevada. (UNLV) in archaeol-
ogy. Focusing on rock
We showed up to the art in Southern Nevada,
next monthly meeting she became a uniquely
and were welcomed by experienced archae-
Nancy Weir, a long-time ologist and SNRAA’s
SNRAA president who professional authority.
introduced us to the During one field trip, a
membership. We fell in new member asked how
the cream. she became so adept at
Most SNRAA mem- locating desert Indian
bers were also members sites. She told him, “If
of affiliated archaeol- it’s a good place for you
ogy groups like Friends to sit down in the shade
of Red Rock Canyon, now, it would have
Archaeo-Nevada Society, been a good place then.
Nevada Archaeologi- People’s habits didn’t
cal Association, Nevada Polychrome pictograph panel in Nevada change much.” Her
Rock Art Foundation, and scholarly judgment was
American Rock Art Research Association. from practical experience and she was a valu-
This group of friendly desert people knew able mentor to all of us.
Volunteers dedicated to the preservation of Red Rock Canyon
rock art. We not only joined SNRAA, we Field trips are guaranteed to cure lethargy.
were adopted.
On our first field trip, Judy and I joined a
As reported by HRA, Inc, Conservation Ar- small SNRAA convoy to Gold Butte where
chaeologists in Las Vegas, rock art is found we attached ourselves to Anne McConnell
in only about three percent of prehistoric and Jack and Elaine Holmes. They were long
archaeological sites. SNRAA provided the time SNRAA members and rock art connois-
education that taught us to appreciate rock art seurs who tutored us through our fledgling
as a significant asset of Southwestern cultural status. They are also recipients of the Nevada
ecology. Each monthly SNRAA meeting Archaeological Association’s prestigious
features speakers who have practical knowl- Ting-Perkins award presented to individuals
edge of the various rock art styles throughout for outstanding avocational contributions to
Southwestern states and for sites around the archaeology in
world. The topics are compelling and con- Nevada. If petro-
tinually refresh our curiosity about hunting- glyphs are ever
foraging cultures. For all of us wanting to discovered on
understand and disentangle the where, what, Mars, they will
why, and how of rock art, SNRAA was our show up to record
resource. If we still needed a clear explana- them. We were in
tion, we called Eileen Green. good hands.
At 55 years old, Eileen Green retired from As years passed, Petroglyph panel in Nevada

the Rock - Volume 10 Issue 4