Cave Project at Esperanza Elementary School

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Cave Project at Esperanza Elementary School

• IGERT Fellow Josh Reuther
• Mentors Sara Chavarria Amy Feldman

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The Archaeological Sciences IGERT program at the
University of Arizona, represented by fellow Josh
Reuther, teamed up with Esperanza Elementary
School in Tucson, Arizona to sponsor an
after-school Art and Archaeology Club in the Fall
of 2005. The club's art and archaeology theme
revolved around the role art plays in helping
archaeologists uncover the hidden stories of the
past, especially in the absence of a written
record. Students learned about the importance of
art and how it communicates information about
landscape (animals, plants, weather) as well as
the cultural values (ex architecture,
ceremonies, clothing) of the people from the
past. They also learned about the processes for
choosing, making and using paints, and the
students found out what mediums were
decoratedsuch as shell, clay, rocks, and cave
walls. This slide show features the Cave Art
culminating project.
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Learning about Cave Art
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A visit by University of Arizona Anthropology
Department Head John Olsen.
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Looking at design options for the petroglyphs and
cave art.
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The CAVE - before painting
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Let the fun begin!
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Esperanza Archaeology Club members are very
creative!
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Outside we see petroglyph designs.
Inside we see prehistoric animal figures.
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Josh Reuther (IGERT fellow and cave builder)
overseeing the artists.
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Almost done.
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Hmm, I spot a . . .
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Satisfaction.
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Josh, Josh, Sara, and Amy thank everyone who
helped make this possible Wim (the cave frame
builder), Thom, Joan, and Iona (Esperanza
teachers extraordinaire), Ned (the flintknapper
"stone tool maker"), and all the parents and
siblings that visited and helped out when they
could.