The Utah Rock Art Research Association (URARA) 41st Annual Symposium starts October 5 and runs through till October 9 in the Jennifer Leavitt Student Center on the USU Eastern campus. Event Representative, Layne Miller who is well known in the local area for his Rock Art knowledge, stopped by Castle Country Radio to share all the details of the symposium.
“It’s a long story on how it got started, but we wanted a group that could focus on Utah Rock Art. So a group of us got together and it went from a small group that got together once a year, just to have a good time, talk about rock art, go on some field trips, into something that is now four days of meetings, and it’s world class, really, this is a world class symposium,” stated Miller. The conference will feature various speakers, workshops, field trips, vendors, and social gatherings.
Speakers for the symposium will be begin speaking on Saturday, October 7 beginning at 8:00 am. This year’s keynote speaker will feature Jerry Spangler, as Miller explains, “If anybody knows the name Jerry Spangler, he’s a former Desert News writer who has turned Archeologist. He’s doing some of the prime original research on Nine Mile Canyon. Nine Mile is going to be one of the key items that we talk about. Then we’re going to have a lady who is an expert on Ute Rock Art.” Speakers will speak about various topics pertaining to Rock Art. The event will close out with a banquet and silent auction, as well as presenting of awards.
On Sunday, October 8 the speakers will begin at 8:00 am. “Sunday we have more presentations. We have some folks who are specializing in different styles of rock art. One of the ways to study rock art is by looking at the style, and then comparing those styles to other similar styles around the west and southwest, so there’s going to be some of that. Then we’re going to be talking about some of the potential dangers to rock art sites. I’ll be talking about a proposal that could heavily impact Nine Mile Canyon,” stated Miller. The afternoon will finish up with additional speakers addressing conservation and preservation topics.
To sign-up for the Utah Rock Art Research Association 41st Annual Symposium please visit the Utah Rock Art Research Association website at https://utahrockart.org/
PHOTO COURTESY OF Utah Rock Art Research Association