If a picture is worth a thousand words, the universal language of rock carving Alberta speaks volumes. Written in stone, an enduring pictorial journal brings the lifestyles of Canada's aboriginal inhabitants into 'up-close and personal' focus. The Canadian landscape is imprinted with the prehistoric passions and imaginings of the Blackfoot tribe, etched in stone imagery and cast on rock in primitive spiritual paintings, fossilized for posterity in time immemorial.
Ingenuity and resourcefulness inspired the ancient Canadian tribe to render their history on abundant rock facades, comprised of soft sandstone, with early tools contrived of hard, sharp rocks, bones and metal. Ancients paints were concocted by mixing animal fat or water with natural mineral pigments. Though the engraved and painted artwork defied nature's elemental forces, wind, rain and ice served to embed character and distinction to the stone formations that held the ancient, artistic renderings for millenniums to come.
Despite today's innovative technologies, some mysteries remain outside the bounds of definitive conclusions. Such is the case for the methods and means utilized to accomplish the unparalleled Egyptian feat in building the Great Pyramids, as well as the survival of ancient artifacts left by the aboriginal Blackfoot tribe. Defying the forces of nature for thousands of years, the primitive paints and etched stonework retained its clarity, while those same forces inscribed spiritual distinction to the sandstone that provide the art's framework, purported to resemble the spirits revered by the tribe.
Many intricate carvings depict remnants of daily existence through animal renderings of buffalo, bears, wolves, deer, insects and reptiles. At a later date, when horses were utilized for travel, stylized artistry reflected tribesmen on horseback preceded by men carrying shields.
Spirituality defined the culture of the tribe as powerfully as physical reality. As hunters, tribesmen revered the spirit of the animals that sustained their survival. Tribal gratitude is expressed in the frequent wildlife depictions that decorated cave walls and the stone formations that surrounded their environment.
Many of the antiquated, stone artifacts relay daily life among the prehistoric Blackfoot tribe, as far back as 3,000 years ago. More recent carvings, estimated by archaeological studies as sixteenth century, depict a more modern society that implemented guns and transportation via horseback.
Blackfoot descendants share strong spiritual connectivity to their ancient ancestry. A sense of family abides in the historic storytelling inscribed on the sandstone that surrounds their heritage and in the paintings that still cling to walls that protected their ancestors. Many priceless archaeological relics were lost with the destruction of forestry, attenuated for gaining land to accommodate growing demands for construction and industry. The loss is monumental, not only personally, for descendants, but historically, for future generations.
The lost artifacts of Canada's ancient Blackfoot tribe have resulted in stringent laws for protecting the remaining treasury of rock carving Alberta, through penalties that carry costly fines and imprisonment for those who deface sacred, archaeological relics. The priceless gifts, painted and sculpted into the landscape by an ancient, aboriginal clan, deserves no less than the assurance of preservation for all time, with the same honor that inspired their historic, selfless purpose of enlightenment for future generations.
Ingenuity and resourcefulness inspired the ancient Canadian tribe to render their history on abundant rock facades, comprised of soft sandstone, with early tools contrived of hard, sharp rocks, bones and metal. Ancients paints were concocted by mixing animal fat or water with natural mineral pigments. Though the engraved and painted artwork defied nature's elemental forces, wind, rain and ice served to embed character and distinction to the stone formations that held the ancient, artistic renderings for millenniums to come.
Despite today's innovative technologies, some mysteries remain outside the bounds of definitive conclusions. Such is the case for the methods and means utilized to accomplish the unparalleled Egyptian feat in building the Great Pyramids, as well as the survival of ancient artifacts left by the aboriginal Blackfoot tribe. Defying the forces of nature for thousands of years, the primitive paints and etched stonework retained its clarity, while those same forces inscribed spiritual distinction to the sandstone that provide the art's framework, purported to resemble the spirits revered by the tribe.
Many intricate carvings depict remnants of daily existence through animal renderings of buffalo, bears, wolves, deer, insects and reptiles. At a later date, when horses were utilized for travel, stylized artistry reflected tribesmen on horseback preceded by men carrying shields.
Spirituality defined the culture of the tribe as powerfully as physical reality. As hunters, tribesmen revered the spirit of the animals that sustained their survival. Tribal gratitude is expressed in the frequent wildlife depictions that decorated cave walls and the stone formations that surrounded their environment.
Many of the antiquated, stone artifacts relay daily life among the prehistoric Blackfoot tribe, as far back as 3,000 years ago. More recent carvings, estimated by archaeological studies as sixteenth century, depict a more modern society that implemented guns and transportation via horseback.
Blackfoot descendants share strong spiritual connectivity to their ancient ancestry. A sense of family abides in the historic storytelling inscribed on the sandstone that surrounds their heritage and in the paintings that still cling to walls that protected their ancestors. Many priceless archaeological relics were lost with the destruction of forestry, attenuated for gaining land to accommodate growing demands for construction and industry. The loss is monumental, not only personally, for descendants, but historically, for future generations.
The lost artifacts of Canada's ancient Blackfoot tribe have resulted in stringent laws for protecting the remaining treasury of rock carving Alberta, through penalties that carry costly fines and imprisonment for those who deface sacred, archaeological relics. The priceless gifts, painted and sculpted into the landscape by an ancient, aboriginal clan, deserves no less than the assurance of preservation for all time, with the same honor that inspired their historic, selfless purpose of enlightenment for future generations.
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To see examples of artistic rock carving Alberta residents can go to the web pages here at www.claudegarneaustudio.ca today. Check out the designs at http://www.claudegarneaustudio.ca now.
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