Petroglyphs and Pictographs of Missouri

TRACCE no. 2 – by Carol Diaz-Granados


In 1993, a two-volume dissertation was completed entitled: The Petroglyphs and Pictographs of Missouri: A distributional, stylistic, contextual, temporal, and functional analysis of the state’s rock graphics.

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In spite of its 750 pages, it is still an overview. There is much to be done yet. However, it contains documentation for the 135 known sites (as of 1993 — we are still receiving leads to sites) with an appendix of line drawings containing sketches of each site (some sketches being done by avocational archaeologists before I was even born!), terminology, descriptions, etc.

Volume I consists of intro, analysis, discussion: major motif types, motif distribution (also mapped for the 50 major motifs), cautious interpretation in view of a number of factors including the mythology of native groups from the general area.

I have assembled a team of specialists and we are currently seeking funding to date the pigments at a number of the sites.

Research continues.

Carol Diaz-Granados, Ph.D. Research Associate
Washington University 1 Brookings Drive Department of Anthropology
St.Louis, MO 63130-4899
Book reference: 1993. The Petroglyphs and Pictographs of Missouri: A distributional, stylistic, contextual, temporal, and functional analysis of the state’s rock graphics

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