Abstract

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park (WOSPP), in southern Alberta, is home to a large collection of Aboriginal rock art images. Numerous erosional forces are destroying the images. However, recent research indicates that some forms of rock art weathering can be delayed through implementation of both passive and active conservation treatments. Implementing these treatments raised the issue of how to asses their effectiveness. Portable laser scanning offers promise, not just for detailed recording of rock art, but also for charting the progress of conservation experiments. This paper describes conservation methods at WOSPP and reports on two laser scanning episodes, spaced over 27 months. Comparison of the two scans suggests that erosion is taking place on short time intervals, and that greater weathering is occurring on the surface not treated with chemical consolidants. While all rock art will ultimately disappear, there is hope for extending the life of select images.