Tennessee Valley Authority Conservation and Management Initiatives at Painted Bluff, Alabama

Summary

Located in northeastern Alabama, Painted Bluff contains motifs similar to ones found on Mississippian ceremonial objects, and an associated charred river cane dating to between AD 1300 and 1440. Approximately 80 images were recorded on the limestone cliffs of the bluff, most of which are red ocher paintings, a few done with yellow pigment, one containing white, and at least three separate thinly-plastered surfaces with fine-line incisions. Following initial recording of the site by Simek, Cressler, and Hermann, Pritchard from the TVA decided to pro-actively conserve and manage the painted site with public visitation in mind. In consultation with relevant Native American Indian groups, Pritchard launched a condition assessment, graffiti removal and camouflage session, and thorough graphic recording of the site with the aim of opening and interpreting a selected portion to the public, with the aid of a boardwalk and interpretive infrastructure.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• Methodology and Interpretation in the Archaeology of Rock Art

Keywords

Spatial Coverage