Pueblo shields are a spectacular component of the pre-Hispanic rock art in the northern Rio Grande valley, including at Mesa Prieta, where they are found in large numbers. Focusing on their associated symbolism and functions in the landscape, brief comparisons will be made with historic shields, and the significance of the observed iconographic continuities and changes will be discussed.


About the School for Advanced Research (SAR): Founded in 1907, the School for Advanced Research (SAR) is one of North America’s preeminent independent institutes for the study of anthropology, related social sciences and humanities. SAR is home to the Indian Arts Research Center, one of the nation’s most important Southwest Native American art research collections. Through prestigious scholar residency and artist fellowship programs, public programs and SAR Press, SAR advances intellectual inquiry in order to better understand humankind in an increasingly global and interconnected world. Additional information on the work of our resident scholars, seminars, Native American artist fellowships, and other programs is available on the SAR website, https://sarweb.org/; on Facebook,   / schoolforadv.  . and on Twitter, @schadvresearch.