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Rock Art of the Trans-Pecos -  Locke McIvor

Locke is the recipient of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Graduate Summer Research Assistantship and is an archaeologist studying the rock art of the Trans-Pecos for her MA thesis. She writes:

"During the first part of the summer I have gone to several sites around the Big Bend to look at its impressive rock art. I have also been doing lots of research in the Center for Big Bend Studies (CBBS) library. I used the Texas Historical Register database to locate the exact coordinates of the sites on the map. I plan to make a 3-D model using a Structure for Motion (SfM) program of my thesis site. With the help from CBBS we developed a grid system that would be best for the rock art site that I am using for my thesis project. We went out for the day and planned the grid and where we would but the GPS coordinate points at a later time. I also took over 300 photos that will be used to make the 3-D model later this fall. After finishing here, we went across the draw from my thesis site to the largest rockshelter in Texas, Bee Cave Shelter.

Bee Cave Shelter is several miles long and includes a large spring fed water source at one end of the shelter. Several images from the shelter are pictured below, the right picture is where I applied the D-stretch app filter. The shelter also includes many rock art panels throughout. Unfortunately, there was a large beehive in the middle of the shelter so we could only visit one half of the shelter. I photographed and used an app called D-stretch that is used to enhance rock art colors on the field. I plan to go back at a later time to see more of the shelter and visit the spring, where there is supposed to be a large rock art panel of anthropomorphs.

For the second half of the semester I plan to finally visits the site in Pecos county as well as several others. I have talked with two other landowners about visiting sites on their property in the Davis Mountains area of the Big Bend. I have also been in contact with the Nature Conservatory and have discussed going out with them to visit several sites in the area as well."

"This summer I have spent time refining my thesis proposal and proposed interview questions for my thesis, Becoming a Cook in a Borderland Kitchen: Narratives and Perspectives of Latinx Youth in La Semilla’s Raíces Program. I have worked to clarify and specify the specific interview questions and instructions for participants on the photovoice portion of their participation. In addition to my own thesis work, I had the opportunity to record, transcribe and translate a storytelling panel for participants of La Semilla's La Cosecha program. The panel consisted of women who told stories of memorable/notable moments in the garden. This recording and transcription will be the first accession to the new La Semilla oral history archive. I have also had time this summer to begin preparations for the 2020 SfAAs in Albuquerque.

This summer research position has been a tremendous help in supporting me in my work and keeping up momentum as we move into the fall semester. I cannot thank you enough for this opportunity."