Protecting Stone Heritage in the Painted Desert: Employing the Rock Art Stability Index in the Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Nothing to say, an excellent paper. Very interesting and good written and documented.

Author Response

Thank you for your approval and interest in our paper. 

Reviewer 2 Report

Argument

 

The authors present and discuss the application of a Rock Art Stability Index (RASI) in Petrified Forest National Park (PEFO), Arizona. For this, the RASI methodology is introduce, considering the application of parameters for the diagnosis of pathologies (decay forms) in rock art (motifs and their support) using specific categories and standardized scales. The instability indices have to do with anthropic or natural causes. An evaluation of the results of the application of RASI in five sites within PEFO follows, considering common and particular affectations, exposing different stability indexes. It is concluded that RASI provides a key tool for the management and protection of sites with rock art anywhere in the world.

 

Problematic

 

Although the application of RASI in theoretical and methodological terms is clear, its application seems ambiguous perhaps due to the lack of direct examples of analysis in particular sites, or the lack of an intervention protocol that will show any affectation on the rock or the motifs; and an ad hoc record form for its practical application.

 

A site with rock art not only includes the cultural motifs or marks and their support, but also the immediate environment and the atmospheric environment. It is understood that some pathologies have to do with changes in this last point, so an independent discussion can be avoided here, however, the immediate environment of rock art, which can be interpreted as the area of production of the evidence, does not present any type of stability index, which demerits the methodology as a whole. It is very common to see that research in rock art obviates this aspect, which is crucial in the investigation and understanding of this cultural evidence.

 

Although it is explicitly established that RASI is the basis for proper management and protection of sites with rock art, it would be good to know if their application has given specific results, reducing the stability indexes or the deterioration of the sites. To what extent RASI has been instrumental in the conservation of rock art where it has been applied?

 

The article is quite solid, but more images could be included to better illustrate the application of the method.

Author Response

Thank you for your review and suggestions. Per your comments, we have added additional information about the specific decay features assessed in the index (Table 1) as well as visual examples of what said assessments may look like. Our challenge is to provide enough information on our study without breaching the confidentiality agreement we made with the National Park Service for the safety of the more fragile rock art sites within the park. Therefore, our results are limited to exploring general patterns of decay, direct examples of already public panels, and observations. 

In terms of environmental influences, this in inherent within the methodology as rock decay takes place in all rock types and all climates. Trying to separate climate as a separate influence dangerous over-simplifies rock decay as a whole. Nearly all decay has some form of intrinsic and extrinsic decay influence so RASI focuses on what decay forms are present, regardless of their formation process.

Also, per your comments, we have added a paragraph in our discussion regarding how the results of our study have influenced park management and the practical application of the index as a management tool. 

Reviewer 3 Report

RASI seems to be an excellent diagnostic tool for rock art places. However, this paper only show a general view about it. Could be better for the reader if the authors provide detailed information about RASI

Author Response

Thank you for  your review. Extensive information about RASI is readily available on the website cited in the paper. Additionally, visual examples and another table have been added to text to further showcase and explain how RASI works within the context of our study.