Capturing Time: 3D Preservation of California Central Valley Rock Art for Future Generations

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The preservation of cultural heritage through advanced technology allows us to understand and protect the past for future generations. This poster presents the Rock Art Heritage Preservation Project, a project aimed at digitally conserving the legacy of California Central Valley's rock art with the Southern Sierra Miwok Nation. California's landscape harbors invaluable cultural heritage, such as rock art sites, many of which remain undocumented due to limited accessibility and private ownership. These petroglyphs and pictographs reflect Indigenous artistic expression and culture; however, these sites are at risk of natural erosion and vandalism, highlighting the urgency of their preservation. The project, centered in Merced and Mariposa counties, uses recording techniques like LiDAR, photogrammetry, and structured light scanning. This initiative not only encourages the digital documentation of these culturally significant sites but also increases their accessibility for both researchers and Indigenous groups. By employing these advanced methods, the Rock Art Heritage Preservation Project strives to offer an immersive experience that bridges the past and present. This undertaking emphasizes the integration of technology and cultural stewardship, ensuring that rock art sites endure as a testament to Indigenous creativity and culture.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 40155.0