The Atlantic connection. Connecting the Azores with Maine.

Welcome

to the Azores.

   I have had the honor of working with my colleagues across the Atlantic. There is a great effort in the Azores to bring attention to the Art and History of the people inhabiting the area prior to the Portuguese arrival. One can ignore the spectacular only so long. This is art that has been overlooked despite the obvious. Working with colleagues, Pedro Duarte and Maria-Antonieta Mendes Costa, we have found profound Information on the stones and landscape of the Azores. 

   What brought us together was a mutual effort to bring light to the Art of the ancient inhabitants of the Azores and around the Atlantic. In order to provide some protection and grant funds to these archeological discoveries, there has to be some acknowledgement that they exist in the first place. I have mentioned Duarte and Mendes here, but I assure you, there are many others noticing and choosing to help. Yay.

     One notable contribution is the photography. As we become more focused on the content of the surfaces, the added filters are a relief to the eyes. It makes one wonder if these ancient skilled craftsmen did have enhanced vision. In any case, we want to thank you. 

   After studying the stones from the Azores, I am finding similar material here in Maine, and other parts of the United States. These findings are part of the reason why looking at stones from the Azores is important. But before anything else let us check out what may be present. 

   A lot of folks want to find a dragon, and there may be one. I have been looking at the smaller stones from the Azores. The tools and tokens left behind by the early inhabitants give an immense amount of information about culture.

   The basin scene above, with its color revealed, reminds me of a Marc Chagall painting. I am not surprised that many others in the art world were taking advantage of the exquisite art form. It is readily available in the stones and landscapes around the world. Of course the contributions of this ancient art form to modern art is a whole different discussion. 

    Smaller stones give great insight to what is being observed in the monumental scale. After looking at the images of the smaller stones I see some of the same subject matter. Birds of course. The goose is very much part of the food chain and very much appreciated by the early people of the Azores. Below, I have highlighted a flying goose on an image that was conjured up by the art of filtering light used by Photography. Thank you again Photographers. <3

   It can seem like a circus at first when the viewer first starts to encounter this art form. At first, to some who have not been following how this technique works, it appears fruitless since one can chose to see anything. With a little more time invested in looking, one can begin to understand that there is more to it. For those who study art, this maybe easier to get to. Art is the skill in leading the viewer through a series of tricks to communicate. This a good time to add that Archeology is the study of Art in a lot of cases, and having Artist be part of that analysis makes a lot of sense. 

    Back to the Azores and the Art of the Ancients. Here in the Azores the Goose was revered. I have highlighted below the goose in flight. There will be many references to the goose throughout the composition. Geese nesting, copulating, hatching, diving and brooding. These artists were very good at rendering water. You can sense the water sparkles as the ducklings splash about.

The image below gives you the view of the stone bowl in natural light as we see it. 

 The next topic that is in the forefront is the dog, I presume hunting dog. Below you can see the dog swimming retrieving waterfowl. The dog is not unlike the dog image below, I thankfully used from the internet. 

There are multiple dogs to choose from including breed, size and age. You can also pick up the flying bat here in the mix. What we are following, at this time, is the large dog. You can imagine, the dog after the ducklings with the the same joy, as the dog in the image catching bubbles.

  With man's best friend and a fat juicy goose what could go wrong? Right? Well the large talons that seem to encompass the entire crew. The talons of this size would mean a really large raptor. This must have been a rough customer. It makes sense that large raptors would find a haven of tasty geese at breeding time. It would have to be big enough to carry off a fat goose, dog and if large enough a human. Human children would have been at risk. There are many talons coming from different directions. In the image below I have highlighted one of the talons. 

    I have picked up the talons before here in the Maine stones but more like a fashion statement with adornments and feathers. Talons are a thing here too. Although with some variations the image of a human head with large talons puncturing the eyes, mouth, and nose, is not a good look for a human, where ever you find it. 

   There are some hints to how to handle this situation. As I have noted before the theme of how to survive seems to run through a lot of the stones. In this case the artist suggest actually grabbing the talon. Other warnings of this type can be seen as punching a snake. In the case of the sabretooth, it is suggested that one grab the canine and punch super hard, possibly even break the tooth.  I have not tested any of these suggestions, but I assure you if I find myself in any of these situations I will certainly give them a try. Another possibility is, like a shark, the giant bird can become immobile when turned  upside down. I believe that is what the artist is intending to communicate with this gesture. There is a possibility that folks had learned this and used it to control the large birds. 

In the Image below, Mendes is leaning into the bowl that we see in the enhanced image. In the image below we are standing farther back. It includes more of the outer rim. Here there are many bird wings posing. The wing tip feathers easily lend themselves to fingers in the human hand. Just as there are many wings there are as many human hands reaching in to the basin. I have high lighted one of the any human forms part taking in this composition. If you lean in a little more you can see the ghost in the stone showing Mendes how to hold a goose. I want to point out how skilled the artist were at foreshortening images to create a bird's eye view perspective. 

   Mendes knows the way around the stones in the Azores. It is a good thing she is approaching the large brooding raptor from behind. Usually we can identify different bird species in the stones easily since the artist were excellent with anatomy. All I identify here is that it is a raptor and it is big and scary looking. I am glad to see Mendes has it well under control. 

Mendes is now showing us what she is really after. An egg or hatchling of one of the great birds would create an interesting pet. I have been noticing A big silly looking bird in different locations on the Azores stones. At first it looked like a dodo bird. Now I am thinking that it is actually one of these stolen giant raptor hatchlings.

 

The whole story is tied up with a friendly reminder that there are some very large talons flying above. Look out. 

   Before you walk away, as always, there is more to the story. In the the same bowl below there is a seated female to the left of the composition. She is turning towards one of these big dodo like birds. There seems to be a relationship. she is holding a bird in her lap. There are a lot of humans holding birds in the stones of the Azores. If you follow the images along the rim you will see rabbits, and other small mammals. There are more hints to what the ancients where able to do with a trained large flying friend. It may be possible that these great birds were used for transport. In some of the images, there is a stick on which this large trained bird seems to be attached to. This large bird may have been trained to lift humans as they held to the handle created by the crossbar held by the large bird.  Could this same large bird be attached to a vessel and trained as turbo power. Maybe if you lean in a little more into the basin you may see it too.

At the expense of raising feathers, I am going all in with female raptor whisperers. It makes sense that females would be better suited for the role. They are lighter in weight.

Here the female is showing off her skills of take off and landing. 

   So this is getting to be as much fun as the Necromanteion of the early Greeks. You can get a sense of time. The work here of the Azores feels older. I describe it as closer to the stone. That is part of my goal here. I am trying to really get you to lean in the basin now. I promise I will not push you in. With all the talk of large talons, we need to start taking safety into consideration. I have been following the use of skull caps by ancient humans way back to Erectus. Here again there is reference to the skullcap and it's application. You can see the the suckling infant at the breast that we have seen many times in the stones all around the world. I have reviewed this in depth in the stone reading about reproduction and development in a previous blog edition. 

  Below is that skull cap. The skullcap would be worn by humans around the world for protection. We may not be able to find them due to the timeline. Bone, hide, and feathers have a limited lifespan. Luckily we have the stories in the stones to tell it all.  

 Below I have highlighted in transparent white the transferring of the skullcap from an adult to the infant. The ancient humans had engineered an effective helmet. 

  I have given everyone a lot to think about and have probably raised some feathers, but the show must go on. I have shared one small area of stone, and the Azores is a rocky place. So, for the rest of publication I will skim over a couple of chosen  larger works, of which there are many. Below is one of these monuments. You can start to get the sense of flight. There is a aerodynamic quality to the overall design. 

   

These types of rock forms are similar in Maine. Below you can spy the many bird forms, the large song bird with beak to the left is always cheerful and alert. The large dog head leaping to the right echoes the dog above. For a sense size, that is a 5 year old in a green raincoat. Even the same flutter of a bat can be seen at top right of the stone. 

 

   As with most of the ancient folk the waterfowl is at the top. For those who love dragons, I am sorry, but I will talk you down. From the top down we start with copulating, to egg laying, and then brooding. That is your dragon. 

   I want to point out the beautiful island bat fluttering above the next image. The artist could even render night scenes. Below the flying bat is the dog. The dog is leaping up hill. The artist has included different angles of the dog to set the whole sculpture into action. This dog has ears that are consistent with signs of domestication with its endearing larger floppy ears.

   In the image below, there is the repetition of the same theme brought up before; a defensive action against the large raptor. There is a lot of action here. You can give a good punch to the head. It is a common defense. There is also the action of actually grabbing the talon. We have already encountered both behaviors. If you feel daring, you can make out the flying maiden. Her head tucked under the talon. She is wise to wear her skullcap. 

Below I have isolated the left area of the monument above to help focus on some of the other human faces. As in many of these polymorphing designs there are multiple faces with different features and status and culture. 

  Above the profiles is a panel of animals first is the raptor in profile with beak to the left. Next to the bird is a frontal bear face that can also read as a large dog. Next to the frontal view of the bear/dog is a large cat presenting a three-quarter-view heading out to the right. Oh, there is also a horse head in the mix along with others.  The cap has some resemblance to the hats of the Easter Island folk. They too, would have encountering large birds. It could be that they were some sort covering of the heads for safety when coexisting with large Raptors.  It may have been an encouraged nesting site for easier access for harvest by humans. 

There are many faces interlocked as in most of this art form. In the image below I have highlighted another possible face displaying some beautiful regalia for the time. I always encourage viewers to zoom in out of images to better explore the design. I am leaving plenty of treasures to be discovered. Before you zoom out, now that you are getting some fluency, look for standing and seated figures that correspond to your profiles. There is a pretty consistent rule where the nose and forearm of the corresponding profiles and body are linked. Have Fun! It is as amazing as Art can get, with the added history lesson.

   The following large item is a stone that was elegantly highlighted by Mendes. Here she has brought out the waterfowl among waterlily. There is a lively heron as well. You can include a parrot in the mix. Mendes' lines are minimal, not too loose, allowing for  the rendering by the original artist to do the rest of work.

   In the next image is the same but I added a few more highlights with little contrast, I regret, but if you zoom in there is the life cycle of the the horse. There is a lovely stallion doing stallion things. The horse can be seen foaling. It can also read as a woman with child with a pack horse with a male figure to the left. If you zoom in, it is  worth the look.

   The next image is another dragon moment. For some of you dragon lovers out there, I will need to challenge you with my Raptor Maiden. For now, it starts the same as the last monuments; waterfowl.  Waterfowl landing and taking off. I will not  talk about any raptor maidens, even if I can clearly see her in the bottom center. 

These folks were the best at rendering water. It splashes about as the duckling on the far right dives upside down. More near the center an adult carries a duckling. Coming in from the far left a dog comes swimming into the picture ready to grab a duck. 

As we have noted in previous discussions, in this Art form, the artist did not mind changing the orientation of the image. When studying this material is helpful to flip the image. Below with a 45 degree turn becomes the mast of a boat. Boats were part of life in the Azores. Most stones give reference to the boat. The mast is an important feature in most designs. In this image I do not have access to the rest of the boat, but it is there. If there is a mast, there is a boat. 

  I have highlighted below, again with little contrast. I have zoomed in to take a closer look. In some other designs in the stones the mast also reads as a tree. I suspect that they are suggesting that the mast is of wood. It could be a large branch or trunk, I suspect trees were valued for their mast potential. Another character that is repeated here in the Azores and around the Atlantic is the sailor rigging the sail up on the mast. It makes total sense to have someone up on the mast as a look out. What I have noticed, here too, is large birds perched on the mast as well. It makes sense that if you are looking at a tree that there may be large birds perching. It would not be far fetched if there were birds landing on a boat mast. I am going to take if a step further for all the dragon lovers. I am suggesting that these birds are perching on the mast with a purpose to enhance the vessels capacity. With our theory that there were young maidens able to take large birds into the sky, we now have a spectacular birds eye view. Maybe with a little synchronizing of bird and boat would add a boost to speed when winds were not up to par.  

   I am moving on to the next part of the show which is the smaller stone. Before I go I can not stress enough how much more information is contained in the design above. There is a life time of study here. I want to stay here and do that, but I can not. I feel it is enough at this time to highlight how this type of communication works. I feel driven to move on to reveal to as many possible, how this can be. I hope I can come back and further explore this site. It is like picking up a book you really want to read, but have to put it back on the shelf for now.

  On to the smaller stones. If you were climbing a big mountain with your favorite guide, and they noticed you were looking tired, they might say, we are almost there. In your heart, you know he really is saying is hang in there. This is a mountain of material already, and here I am picking up little rocks and saying, "Look!" 

   I was presented a couple of  hand tools from the Azores. I was asked to find a similar match with a stone from my location, Maine. Luckily I have been following this same tool. I have chosen the little feminine scarper on the right. I have been working hard at breaking down the content. I have been using it as a standard when comparing changes in the same tool around the world. This is a nice opportunity to see my work paying off. If you have an interest please continue on

https://karolabryant.blogspot.com/2021/12/lithic-literature.html

   These little scrapers pack a punch when it comes to information. I believe they were used by mostly women working with hides. Although feathers were definitely an item of fashion, the whole bird's hide could be maintained intact with tanning skills. For a scarper to be effective you do not want any sharp edges to gouge or tear the skin. It is the same idea for the curve at the end of most knives. The scrapers will give instructions on how to do it. I know there is that mountain again. As I keep on pointing out to those dragon lovers, here is another thought. When a large bird carcass was properly tanned and adjustments made. The intact bird pelt, worn by your favorite raptor maiden, in latest talon wear, and then taken down the NYC fashion catwalk, they would all swoon. This idea may seem silly but in the times when this tool was utilized, fashion was super important. Following the fashion is another wonderful way to approach culture and possible placement on the timeline. 

  

 

   I have included a little story board covering some of the type of information on the both stones to bring to light the similarities between the same type of tools; one from the Azores upper left and the scraper form Maine below it. I go into greater detail on the subject of human devotement and reproduction.

https://karolabryant.blogspot.com/2022/01/conception-child-birth-and-development.html

 

I have included some additional highlights of the Azores scraper. The spotting of the raptor maiden was a surprise. The more I look at her, the clearer she gets. So I am going to ask all those eagle eyes out there to give it  go. Please <3.  

   As most in the Azores' stones, the goose is king, and the mama goose even more so. You can see the gander s head sweeping in on the right linked with the chubby fluffy gosling. I am always amazed how the artist can make a little hard rock in to a ball of fluff. 

  

  Using your new Pareidolian skills, make note of the large human hand reaching down around the tail of the bird in the image above. There is a practice of gathering rafting birds at night as they float in a sleeping stupor. If you follow the story you can make out a small boat harvesting the vulnerable water fowl. The same hand is also harvesting ducklings, if you take a gander.

 Below I have highlighted the beautiful family of geese using the simple techniques used showcased by  Mendes.  

 Below with a slight turn of the stone we witness the laying eggs and embryos developing.

Here are a lot birds linked in flight in both directions. 

below a swallow tends to it's brood. 

Below is the big bird that at first looked like a dodo. I think it is one of those giant raptors that we have spotted before perched on the crow's nest near the top of the mast of their ships. These birds are often accompanied by fit females. 

Next is a petrel. It is a favorite of mine to spot among the swells of the Atlantic.

An elegant female owl poses with her wings as the male dotes on her and his brood. Although the birds are gorgeous, What is super interesting is the nesting material. It actually looks woven. Were the folks of the Azores using pant materials to weave baskets for the birds. They could have been encouraging birds to nest at desired locations to encourage breeding.  

Below the Artist excels at creating a sense of water by adding a waterlily and a fish coming from below to take an insect. All this going on as the waterfowl wade in the shallows. In the lower left part of the design a fish hawks flies away with it's catch. It is so peaceful that I find it hard to mention giant talons.

With a slight turn of the stone we are given a glorious display of the Azores' bats. How easily the artist transforms feathers to bat fluff. Here I am slipping back to my old ways of tracking the lines to record and separate the layers using the illustrator program. There are hidden gems that reveal themselves. 

Below I am demonstrating how quickly these artist can turn your attention away from the bat fluff and really get into plumage. We could also start working on our image of the raptor maiden. No harm in looking. I promise. 

  

   With the illustrator program. I can lift and move layers around. I can take a design off one rock and impose it on another to really begin to illustrate the structure of the design. As I have been pointing out, this all starts to read like an early from of character writing as in the Asian characters. That would be an amazing study. It would be a true continuum. 

   Below we continue on to one of  crazy ramblings of wild woman. This is a series of highlights of the stone above. I have removed the stone and placed it on a blue background. I did some similar work in previous editions of this blog. I must say I find Mendes minimal work exquisite and I have learned a lot of how to better share some material. The benefit of the lines isolated by the illustrator is the capacity to reveal subjects that may have been over looked. Noticing new forms in this process is the over all shape of the "fist" comes forward. We saw the fist in reference to  defense against a raptor already in this blog. Here, it is tethered to a cat's head. I have turned the stone tool slightly to better align the subject with the eye of the viewer. Make your own hand into a fist, compare it to the design below. You can feel the force of the punch rendered by the artist. The large cat's head  is seen facing to the  right and has been caught stealing the goose eggs.

   This large cat does not seem to carry the large canine of the sabretooth cat. If you take take the time to lean in you can see that the artist is warning that this cat was  a danger to humans. (FYI, I am allergic to cats), hence the punch. You can pick up the smallish ears close to the head and canine cradling the eggs in its mouth. I looked for a matching extinct species and I did find something similar. 

Below the profile is in reverse but if definitely rings a bell.

   Below if you zoom you focus out a little the head shape lends itself to the full body of the beast. If you lean in little you can see his spots. If you lean in a little more it is taking down a foal. If you can swim you will see it is also dragging a human by the head. Not a good look, but the danger to humans by large cats was occurring around the world. This danger is recorded with a punch in almost all the stones. Although, when the large cat was warn as a pelt, it is sublime. I hope you are enjoying this as much as I am. 

 

Now, for anyone who has held on this long on this ride, you may be earning your first Pareidolian badge. If you are understanding what I am doing here, you also understand I can be totally wrong about all of this. If I am wrong, then this is a great study of brain function. I must add, I am having the time of my life with a pile of rocks. I would not change it. If I am right, in describing the early form of character writing, then we are in business. I see your Dragon and I raise the Raptor Maiden.

  

 

   I really must move on. There is so much to cover. I want to emphasize the presence of some very interesting boat designs on these stones. So, before everyone skips away, those folks out there loving very ancient boats, I know you have been looking too. Good luck. It is all spectacular Art.

 

  The next smallish hand tool Is one design I also enjoy a lot here in Maine. It feels like a mini hatchet in the hand. It would work best with light wood work. such as basket weaving and harvesting leafy material. I think I am drawn to this type of tool is because I believe it was handled by mostly females. Being a female artist myself, and handling many types of tools, I can see myself picking it up and finding a good use for it. Most tools come with instructions, and this one is no different. In the next series of images I will skim over this last stone. It certainly deserves that much. It actually tell us more about the people and there way of life. 

below are a few of many different styles of the same type of tool. Feel free to zoom and apply the same design to any of the stones below.

The same stone tool type below in a beautiful Maine flint. The pale color is due to oxidation. This is one of the beautiful stones from around my home. It carries many of the same characters. I hope you are catching on. If not, it is okay, take a break and try another day. It will come. The pinnacle is just around the corner. 

   The first activity I see is the woody compound leaf with human forms walking through the greenery. You can notice smaller bird forms. The figure seems to be harvesting and stripping the leafy material from what appears to be a rather sturdy flexible stalk. If you have a good eye, you can make out the actual tool in the person's hand. If you enjoyed the sport of fencing it would be similar to a foil blade. It almost looks  like basket quiver on the workers back to contain the sharp harvest.  If you lean in you can meet other folks living and working among the leafy cover. I am sure this cover would have been appreciated by everyone if there were large raptors from above. 

Below is another scene of more harvesting of the leafy material but this time the actual leaves are the focus. You can note hands grabbing the leaves. If you lean in you can see the nimble hands working away, weaving the leaves together. We already picked up some basket material that appeared as nesting baskets earlier in this blog. From all the instruction on this stone basket weaving and mat weaving was very much part of their culture. Rope, harnesses, boats, would all include this textile work.

You can continue meeting other island folk. This fellow stepping out on the hunt for birds with his spear crafted from the handy leafy material. There are others part taking in building shelters. 

   After all that work of gathering and weaving material anything attached to the land would be vulnerable to fire. Volcanic eruptions may have prompted an exit. It is a good thing that the people of the Azores are master engineers and planners. They were sea people with boats ready for such an exit. Below the village is alerted and they make their way down to the port. You can see some of the folks holding on to birds as they hurry along.

There is one more large stone that was brought to my attention at last minute that I also wanted to include. I find this type of stone here in Maine too, and I am delighted to find it on the Azores.

 

I believe this to be an older style stone. It carries a strong duality with two human profiles looking in opposite directions. I believe there is a documentation of the interbreeding between Neanderthal with the bright big smile looking to the right and the Erectus with strong chin and long nose looking to the left.  There are super details lost as I transferred this images at the last minuet.

 

I  know this has been a super long show. I knew it would be. I want to give super thanks to my wonderful colleagues. I know this is way more than you asked for. I hope you can find some wonderment and beauty in what I have to offer. Thank you again. To the Grammar Police, I am still proof reading and doing my best. I think I am improving. Thank you for your patience.

p.s. Who really likes snakes on rocks? This will be fascinating.