Ancient Indian petroglyphs in the Smoky Hills of central Kansas depict human figures, animals and geometrics. Geologist Rex Buchanan, who’s co-authored a book about them, will give a presentation at Iola Public Library at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Carved in the soft sandstone centuries before Coronado’s visit in 1541, some of the images mark identity; others record events and seasons, or symbolize shamanism. A native of Rice County, Buchanan will discuss these images and the people who made them.
On a contemporary note, he will also describe the challenges of dating and interpreting the carvings, threats posed by erosion and vandalism, and the role of landowners whose properties shelter the carvings.
Buchanan is director emeritus of the Kansas Geological Survey. “Petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills” and other books by Buchanan are available for checkout from the library’s Kansas Collection, housed in genealogy. The presentation is sponsored by Humanities Kansas.
