Hidden Thunder: Rock Art of the Upper Midwest at Everett Roehl Marshfield Public Library 6:30 p.m., Friday, July 28
Submitted to EXPLORE – Robert “Ernie” Boszhardt is the archaeologist half of a team that wrote Hidden Thunder: Rock Art of the Upper Midwest. Ernie will be focusing on examples of Native American rock art found in Wisconsin during his presentation at the Everett Roehl Marshfield Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 28. The gathering will take place in the Library’s JP Adler Family Room.
Archeologist Robert “Ernie” Boszhardt teamed up with watercolor artist Geri Schrab to interpret the hidden history and heritage painted in American Indian rock art—the ancient petroglyphs and pictographs—found in the Upper Midwest.
With an eye toward preservation, Boszhardt takes us him through the research, documentation, and interpretation of the petroglyphs and pictographs made in past millennia. In addition to publicly accessible sites such as Wisconsin’s Roche-A-Cri State Park and Minnesota’s Jeffers Petroglyphs, Hidden Thunder covers the artistic treasures found at several remote and inaccessible rock art sites in the Upper Midwest—revealing the ancient stories through words, full-color photographs, and Schrab’s watercolor renditions.
Offering the perspective scientist, Boszhardt shares the facts that archaeologists have been able to establish about these important artifacts of our early history.
Viewpoints by members of the Menominee, Ho-Chunk, Ojibwe, and other Native nations offer additional insight on the historic and cultural significance of these sites. Together these myriad voices reveal layers of meaning and cultural context that emphasize why these fragile resources—often marred by human graffiti and mishandling or damage from the elements—need to be preserved.
In addition to being an author and archaelogist with more than forty years of experience, Boszhardt is co-owner of Driftless Pathways, along with his wife, Danielle Benden. Mr. Boszhardt received his B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and M.S. in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Ernie has practiced archaeology in the Driftless Area for decades, including nearly 30 years with the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center and, since 2010, as an independent researcher. He has published numerous articles and several books that touch upon nearly every aspect of archaeology in the region.
His book entitled Hidden Thunder recently won the Midwest Book Award. He regularly speaks at local civic organizations and leads archaeological site tours with Danielle.
This program is sponsored by the Marshfield Public Library Foundation, Inc. The one-hour presentation allows for a question and answer period. Refreshments and a book signing will follow. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. For more information, please contact Lori Belongia at 715-389-2745 or via email to [email protected]
