On Friday, May 8, archaeologist Nolan Smith will give the public presentation: “History, Culture, and Petroglyphs of Hawai’i.” The culture and rock images of the islands go back hundreds of years. The Free event, which is sponsored by Friends of Sierra Rock Art, takes place at Nevada City’s Madelyn Helling Library on Maidu Avenue at 7pm.
Smith will give a brief overview of Hawai’ian history and culture while discussing their Polynesian roots. This will set the stage for over forty stunning photos of rock images. He will also provide a comparison of our region’s “Style 7” petroglyphs with Hawai’ian petroglyphs.
Smith worked as an archaeologist for the Tahoe National Forest for forty years. He served as a district archaeologist and worked closely with Friends of Sierra Rock Art during much of that time. He is vice-president of the board of FSRA and oversees the non-profit’s monitoring of petroglyph sites on the Tahoe National Forest and PG&E lands.
Bill Drake, president of FSRA, stated, “We are fortunate to have an experienced archaeologist share his research on Hawai’i and his wonderful photographs of its unique rock art.”
Friends of Sierra Rock Art works with the Tahoe National Forest, other agencies, and Native Americans to protect cultural resources. It is the first non-professional organization to have received the Society for California Archaeology’s prestigious Helen C. Smith award for contributions to California archaeology. It is also the recipient of the American Rock Art Research Association’s 2025 national conservation award.
For more information go to www.friendsofsierrarockart.org or contact Bill Drake at billdrake2@gmail.com.