Shooting for the Stars

This small book provides an interdisciplinary investigation into Star Ceilings-a unique form of Native American pictographic rock art found in the American Southwest characterized by cruciform star icons painted on cave and rock shelter ceilings. Attributed to the Navajo people, this study, which is primarily based at one important Star Ceiling site, addresses long-standing archaeological questions about the origin and purpose of these beautiful and mysterious artworks. Using a novel approach that bridges archaeology with Native American mythic narratives and the Spanish historical record, this research yields significant new findings. Shooting for the Stars: A Brief Look at Navajo Star Ceilings reshapes our understanding about the possible mythological, historical, and cultural roots that underlie this unique and powerful form of rock art.