Assessing the Variability and Chronology of Red Linear Style Pictographs in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas
Date
2023-12
Authors
Roberts, Jerod L.
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Abstract
This thesis aims to further define the characteristics of Red Linear style anthropomorphic figures, identify regional variations, and establish its temporal relationship with other regional rock art styles of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas and Coahuila, Mexico. In 2013, Boyd et al. presented a list of diagnostic attributes for the Red Linear style, shedding light on the style's unique features. Additionally, they identified 38 Red Linear figures under the Pecos River style, suggesting that the Red Linear style as either older than or contemporaneous with the Pecos River style. Building on Boyd et al.'s foundation, this thesis incorporates anthropomorphic attributes from 15 additional Red Linear sites documented during Shumla Archaeological Research and Education Center’s Alexandria Project, resulting in a comprehensive list of 614 Red Linear anthropomorphs across 25 sites. Statistical and geospatial analyses were employed to discern patterns of regional variation within the Red Linear style. To pinpoint the chronological context of the Red Linear style, I selected seven anthropomorphs with clear diagnostic Red Linear attributes for radiocarbon dating. Results derived from these figures position the Red Linear style between 4830±35 and 4275±35 RCYBP. These findings bolster Boyd et al.'s conclusions, offering an enriched understanding through absolute dating methods, pivotal for subsequent research endeavors in the region.
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Keywords
archaeology, rock art, Lower Pecos, red linear style
Citation
Roberts, J. L. (2023). Assessing the variability and chronology of red linear style pictographs in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.