Pecos Rock Art Decoded: SHUMLA School’s Boyd Sees Shamanic Stories

by Bill Davenport July 27, 2012

Texas anthropologist Carolyn Boyd, founder of t SHUMLA (Studying Human Use of Materials, Land, and Art), an education and research center in Comstock, Texas, has put forward a detailed interpretation of some of the enigmatic rock art of the Pecos region in West Texas by comparing it with modern day Huichol and Yaqui legends. While generally in agreement with the accepted interpretations of the  art as depicting  elements of shamanic religious experience, Boyd’s theories boldly attribute specific meanings to groups of human figures, animals and symbols, all detailed in a recent piece in Discover Magazine.

Ancestors slay the peyote deer

 

2 comments

2 comments

Toby Ward January 5, 2013 - 10:53

Would sure like to receive information about Schumla. I have a great interest in rock interest….toby

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Toby Ward January 5, 2013 - 10:57

I am very interested in Shumla School and all its activities and would like to receive information when available. I have a great interest in rock art having grown up in Iraan, Texas. I explored the hills and pastures throughout the area….toby

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