K'uu T'ahn--Rock Markings: Stories on Stone

Petroglyphs. What are they exactly? Ancient graffiti? Art? Metaphorical writing? Prompts for storytellers? These are the interesting questions addressed in K'uu T'ahn, and the conclusion this tape reaches is that they are representations of mythic events such as tribal genesis, mass migrations and epic battles. Perhaps the rocks were like giant blackboards used to record events and thereby educate early students. This video focuses on the region around Santa Fe, New Mexico, and part of the proceeds from the sale of the tape go to the National Pictograph Society to encourage the preservation of petroglyph sites. Unfortunately, what could have been a fine work is dulled by a plodding, conventional style and very average production techniques and below average sound quality. If only the storytelling of the video were as engaging and timeless as the storytelling on the stones. As it is, this is recommended only for libraries with a specific interest in Southwest archaeology. Aud: C, P. (R. Ray)