About Us
The Purpose of the Concho Valley Archeological Society
To promote a formal means by which individuals interested in anthropological and archeological studies in the State of Texas and related areas, may come together for mutual benefit.
To promote the continuing study of the peoples of Texas, from ancient times to the present.
To establish and promulgate to its members and to the general public, rules of conduct, code of ethics and standards of quality to govern anthropological work.
To effect harmony and cooperation between amateur and the professional anthropologists and archeologists, so that the work of all will permanently enrich our knowledge of human history.
To bring to the attention of the general public and of appropriate governmental agencies, the need for preservation of archeological and historical sites within the State of Texas as well as for recording of the ways of life of extant groups in Texas and related areas.
To disseminate information on anthropology and archeology and, particular, on the work of CVAS members, through periodic, regularly schedule meetings of CVAS and through such special events and other activities as CVAS may consider proper to further its objectives.
To assist in establishing archeological museums through contributions or gifts of materials or money.
To encourage the scientific collection, preservation, classification, study and publication of ethnological materials and archeological remains.
History of the CVAS Logo
Most organizations have a logo or symbol that represents the group. When people see this logo they automatically associate it with the group it represents. The Concho Valley Archeological Society (CVAS) adopted its logo (hunting scene) shortly after it was discovered in 1974. The question arises—how many of us know the history of the “Hunting Scene” and why we chose it to represent the CVAS. The following are excerpts from an article written by J.A. Jaquier in the Bulletin of the Texas Archeological Society (Volume 55/1984) that tell the story of the finding of the petroglyph that we use as our logo.
A Petroglyph (41TG54) from Tom Green County, West Central Texas
The Concho Valley of west-central Texas has long been noted as the location of Paint Rock (41CC1), the major pictograph site on the Concho River, about 48 Km (30miles) east of San Angelo. The discovery of this isolated petroglyph (41TG54) along the southwestern margin of the O.C. Fisher Reservoir (north of San Angelo in Tom Green County) represents, to the best of the writer’s knowledge, the only document example of rock carving (as opposed to rock painting) along the Concho River.
The petroglyph, herein called the Red Arroyo hunting scene, was discovered in August 1974 on U.S. Corps of Engineers land by two motor-cyclists who subsequently reported the find. The small sandstone boulder on which the petroglyph is carved was at the side of a draw below a sandstone bluff. The reservoir manager, D.A. Caffey, immediately expressed concern over protection of the petroglyph to the Fort Worth District of the Corps and constructed a small wooden shelter to cover the boulder. By the time the site was recorded by Darrell Creel in December 1975, the shelter had been torn down by vandals, and weathering of the petroglyph was occurring at a rapid rate. In November 1977, under a contract between the Corps of Engineers and the Cultural Resources Institute of Texas Tech University, William J. Mayer-Oakes conducted an archeological survey of the site area. Based on his recommendation, Corps personnel prepared a statement of work and awarded a contract in May, 1979 to Banham-Blair and Affiliated, Inc. of Oklahoma City to excavate and, if possible, remove the sandstone boulder. In June 1979, the work was completed and the Red Arroyo hunting scene petroglyph was placed in a naturalistic setting in a display case in the project office of the O.C. Fisher Reservoir, where it can be viewed today.
The Red Arroyo hunting scene is composed of three distinct stylistic representations: a human stick figure equipped with bow and arrow, a discoidal depression probably representing the sun, and a depression in the form of a large quadruped (the target of the hunter). Each of these depictions were carved into the surface of a small (75 by 50 by 40 cm) sandstone boulder that has a gray cortex and tan interior.
The Red Arroyo hunting scene is a valid example of prehistoric Indian rock art. Analysis of the content-particularly the bow and arrow and bison- rock art and a comparison with the mixed artistic styles of the Paint Rock pictographs further confirms the prehistoric nature of this petroglyph. A more finite span of A.D. 1200 to 1600 is tentatively proposed.
Unfortunately, five years of exposure to the elements (from time of recording to removal to the display) after runoff cleaned the surface of the rock of its protective cover of soil, and were responsible for serious deterioration of the Red Arroyo hunting scene petroglyph. Despite being indoors in a display, the petroglyph’s human stick figure is barely recognizable, and the animal figure on its right cannot clearly be discerned at all.
At the time the Red Arroyo hunting scene petroglyph was found, J.A. Jaquier archeologist and member of the CVAS, came up with the idea that this hunting scene would make a perfect logo for our society. The CVAS could not have chosen a better logo to represent our society.
Tracing of the Red Arroyo hunting scene petroglyph from a
1974 U.S. Corps of Engineers photograph.
Texas Archeological Society Bulletin Volume 55/1984
