Society Activities

Rock Art Task Force

INTERSESSION ROCK ART RECORDING IN THE BIG BEND AREA
December 28, 2009 - January 1, 2010

The Rock Art Recording Group will be working in the Big Bend area the week of December 28, 2009 through January 1, 2010 (arriving Sunday, December 27 and departing Saturday, January 2).  The group will be headquartered at Wild Horse Station #4, located on Hwy 118 ca. 75 miles south of Alpine and approximately 7 miles north of Study Butte.

Permission has been given to record a site on private property, a pictograph with lots of over-painting (90% red).  Rock Art Committee chair Teddy Lou Stickney visited the site for about 30 minutes in March 2009, and noted that the icons are representative of the Jornada Mogollon, Plains, and several other cultural traditions.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION (logistics):

The Rock Art Recording Group has been operating somewhat along the lines that the TAS Field School uses.  They find opportunities for housing or camp grounds that will accommodate the group and arrange to provide meals for a fee.

The registration fee for this rock art session is $50.00.  This fee is to contribute to the cost of the meals, as food for three meals a day for five days will be provided.  Everyone staying there will share in the fee for the lodging at Station #4.  The facility that has been reserved will sleep six, but there is plenty of space for tents and campers.  The cancellation date is December 19; the registration fee can't be refunded after this date because the food will already have been purchased.

While rock art recorders will be allowed to set up tents at Wild Horse Station #4, they will have to shower at Big Bend Motor Inn, as Station #4 has a limited water supply.  Showers are coin-operated at $2.00 for 6 minutes of showering.  If you prefer to stay at the Big Bend Motor Inn and RV Park, located at the junction of Hwy. 118 and FM-170 in Study Butte, the fee to set up a tent there is $15.00 per night, while RV space is $29.00 per night.  The Big Bend Motor Inn reservations line is 1.800.848.2363.

All the group-provided meals will be served in the camp area at Station #4. The menu is:

• Breakfast: cereals and fruit
• Lunch: sandwich makings, chips, and fruit
• Dinner: a main dish, salad, and dessert with sun tea

Of course, individuals with special diets will need to bring their specialized food.  It’s a good idea to bring snack foods, though there are always extra food items on hand.  Everyone is responsible for their own drinks – bottled water, sodas, fruit punches, etc.

WORK DAY:

Work is scheduled for 7 hours per day with a break for lunch.  Available light controls the recording day – whether morning light or afternoon light is needed.

RECORDING SUPPLIES:

Bring a clip board and a drawing board if you have one, mechanical pencils with .5-mm lead, a line level and string, a black sharpie, and a folding English (carpenter's) ruler.  If you can’t find this type of ruler, there will be some extras; metric rulers and tapes may also be used.  A tool apron or belt might be helpful to carry small supplies.

Weather can be cool in the morning and quite warm in the afternoon.  Layered clothing should work best; you will also need sturdy shoes, a hat, sun screen, and insect repellent.  Be sure to bring whatever personal items you will need for the week.

Send your reservation to Teddy Stickney at 201 West Solomon Ln, Midland, TX 79705 by December 14, 2009. You can reach Teddy about reservations or with any questions at the email link below or by phone at 432.682.9384 home, 432.559.2380 cell; email stick711@sbcglobal.net.

You may use the Wild Horse Station phone for emergency calls: 432.371.2526.

Read about other Rock Art Recording Group excursions in the rock art webpages.