Garden City Community College will host “Petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills,” a presentation and discussion by Rex Buchanan at 6 p.m. April 24 in the Saffell Library Lobby and via Zoom.
Members of the community are invited to attend the free program, which is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
Too often Kansas history seems to start with Coronado’s trip through the state in 1541. For centuries before European arrival, Native people lived on the plains, and some left behind rock carvings on soft sandstone in the middle of the state.
Based on the book Petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills, this presentation focuses on these carvings, the people who made them, and what the carvings tell us about those people and their relationship to the land.
The presentation also discusses the challenges of dating and interpreting these carvings, the threats posed by erosion and vandalism, and the role of landowners whose property shelters these carvings.
Buchanan is the former director of the Kansas Geological Survey and the author of books about Kansas geology and water.
“Petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Speakers Bureau, featuring humanities-based presentations designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.
As a security measure, the Zoom room will lock 10 minutes after the start time. Meeting ID 941
8831 7392 for Zoom link: https://gcccks-edu.zoom.us/j/94188317392
For more information, contact Julia Proctor, GCCC Director of Library Services, at [email protected].
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit leading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
