Variation of Pecos River Style Antlered Anthropomorphs

By Charles Koenig and Amanda Castañeda

Over the course of the Alexandria Project one of our primary objectives is to identify repeated rock art attributes, figures, and/or motifs. As we explained in the Iconographic Inventory blog, we are recording a limited number of rock art attributes at each site we visit. Of the 30-plus attributes we collect information on, perhaps the attribute that gets the Shumla Research Team the most excited are anthropomorphic figures with antler-rack headdresses.

Illustration of a Pecos River Style anthropomorph with antler-rack headdress from Cedar Springs (Boyd 2003:Figure 3.8)

Antlered Anthropomorphs

The antlered anthropomorph from White Shaman.
Based on Carolyn Boyd’s research at the White Shaman site (Boyd 2003, 2016), antlered figures depicted within Pecos River Style rock art were an important symbol for Lower Pecos hunter-gatherer culture. For instance, the antlered figure at White Shaman arguably represents the fire god, sun god, deer god, and Venus; the antlers represent flames, and the dots on the ends of the antler tines represent water and Ancestors — which are also peyote and deer! Antlers are incredibly significant symbols, and the more examples we document the more we can learn about the meaning of antlers within Pecos River Style rock art.
Although this blog focuses on antler-rack headdresses, it is important to state that these adornments are uncommon on Pecos River Style anthropomorphs. However, the symbolic importance and the limited number of examples are part of the reason why the team gets giddy when we find a new example!

Variation of Antlered Anthropomorphs

Going into the Alexandria Project we knew of 12 anthropomorphs with antlers, and since the start of the Alexandria Project we have identified six additional examples. With the increased number of examples, we are beginning to see patterns in the way these antlered figures are portrayed. Below are just of the few common attributes shared by antlered figures.

Black Dots and Black Tips

Early during Carolyn’s dissertation research she noticed the unnatural attribute of dots painted on the end of antler tines. Interestingly, we have identified some figures that have black antler tips rather than black dots. We suspect that the black dots and tips share the same symbolism, but it is interesting we are observing two different methods for portraying these unique antlers.

We have identified two different ways Pecos River Style artists depicted black on the ends of antler tines: individual dots (left) or “filled-in” tips (right).

Curved Versus Straight Antlers

The main beams of most antler-rack headdress we have documented are curved; however, we have now observed at least two examples of straight main beams. Interestingly, each of the straight main beam examples are located at sites along the Devils River.

Within Pecos River Style rock art antler-rack headdresses are depicted with either straight (left) or curved (right) main-beams. The anthropomorph on the left is from Chiminea Shelter, and the figure on the right is from White Shaman. The lower two images have been enhanced with DStretch.

Double Antler Racks

We have documented two figures with double antler racks. Carolyn argues in her new book that the figure with the double antler rack at White Shaman represents a specific deity, and we are excited to begin comparing the attributes between the two figures.

We have documented two instances in Pecos River Style where anthropomorphs have two sets of antlers as part of their headdresses. The anthropomorph on the left is from White Shaman, and the figure on the right is from Running Deer. The lower two images have been enhanced with DStretch.

Antlered Anthropomorphs Associated with Other World Journey Motifs

Many of the antlered anthropomorphs we have documented thus far are associated with Other World Journey motifs, or OWJ. OWJs consist of an anthropomorph “passing through” a portal. The portals can take many different shapes, but in each example the anthropomorph is above, below, or within the portal. The two most common representations of portals we have documented are arches or what we call “box with legs.”

Other World Journey motifs are present at a number of sites in the Lower Pecos. In these two examples from White Shaman (left) and Cedar Springs (right) Pecos River Style anthropomorphs with antler-rack headdresses and dots on the end of each antler tine are passing through portals. Notice the small red “box with legs” over the figure from Cedar Springs.

Antlered Anthropomorphs with Wings, Upraised Arms, Mask, and “Bear Ears”

One of the surprises we have found is that anthropomorphs with antler-rack headdresses not only share antler attributes, but also share other body characteristics. For instance, we knew about three examples of antlered anthropomorphs with wings from Fate Bell and Raymond’s Shelter. In addition to an antler-rack headdress, each figure has wings, upraised arms, a mask (black or negative circle within the head), and “bear ears” (if you have been following our #motifmonday posts on Facebook these figures will sound familiar). We were very excited to identify another example of this type of figure at a site we recently documented! The newest figure is in very poor condition, but the head shape, antlers, and upraised arms suggest this figure also had wings when it was originally painted.

We believe we have identified nearly the same figure at three different sites: A) Fate Bell Shelter, B) Raymond’s Shelter, and C), 41VV97. As can be seen in the close up images, each of the figures has antlers, upraised arms, “bears ears,” and a mask (black or negative space within the figure’s face). The two figures from Fate Bell and Raymond’s Shelter are well preserved compared to the figure from 41VV97. The top three and bottom-right images have been enhanced with DStretch.

Continuing Research into Antlered Anthropomorphs

Below are images of of the 18 antlered anthropomorphs in real-color and DStretch enhancement (just click on each image to go between real-color and DStretch). There are many more shared similarities between the antlered figures than can be discussed in this blog, so be sure to check out all 18 antlered anthropomorphs documented thus far to identify shared traits for yourself. Antlers are only one of the attributes we are researching as part of the Alexandria Project. Each new site we document contains new information to help us better decipher the meaning of repeated images, and further contributes to our understanding of Lower Pecos rock art.

41VV124-1

41VV1230

41VV1284

41VV124-2

41VV612-1

41VV612-2

41VV696-1

41VV696-2

41VV696-3

41VV97

41VV50

41VV74-1

41VV74-2

41VV840

41VV286

41VV39

41VV961

41VV1348

3 Comments

  1. Tee S. on February 11, 2019 at 11:10 pm

    Are the dots possibly marking constellations? They’ve been painted and then “filled in” with the deity that matches the “deer” constellation, e.g. The common shape of significant figures, including deer, is rectangular. Dr. Boyd has observed that the white shamanic figure is headless. The shaman also rectangular. Looking at figures that look like long black creatures with long antennae, I believe they are just like the white shaman, headless figures with arms but their arms are reaching up and worshipping an important figure. Why is it that some rectangular bodies have heads, like the deer (also highly revered by the Huichol) and others don’t- the black figures and white shaman?

    • Charles Koenig on February 18, 2019 at 2:33 pm

      Hello! Dr. Boyd put forth several different interpretations for the dots in her most recent White Shaman book, including that the dots represent the souls of the ancestors (which are also stars). So, in that regard it is possible that the dots could represent constellations. Regarding head/head shape and the relation to body shape, there is a huge variety within Pecos River Style rock art of how artists depicted these things. Generally Pecos River Style anthropomorphs have rectangular bodies, and some sort of head, but we’re not sure the meaning behind when they painted (or did not paint) heads on figures.

  2. James Boyd on October 23, 2020 at 3:40 am

    Are you familiar with deer (incl. White-Tailed deer) behavior, specifically bucks, standing on their hind legs in certain situations during the Bachelor Period (pre-rut)? I have numerous photographs of the activity that, to this day, instills within me a sense of awe, and I am often left wondering how prehistoric man must have viewed such activity and it likely was perceived as magical or supernaturally-induced. Have thought of authoring a short paper that ponders the possibility, along with supportive photos [of White-Tailed deer] depicting the act, along with a few photos of antlered anthropomorphs.