Homeschoolers who have studied Arizona geography will recognize that many of the state's characteristic landforms are related to volcanic activity. Are there other epochs in the region's history that show a completely different type of terrain?
Wayne Ranney, geologist, trail guide and award winning author, has written numerous books exploring the geology of the Southwest and has traveled from one end of the globe to the other. He documents other seasons when Arizona was part of a tropical seashore, replete with dinosaurs and other ancient creatures. He will be sharing his discoveries in a free lecture at Deer Valley Rock Art Center.
See slideshow of books by Wayne Ranney
FREE lecture: “Ancient Landscapes of the American Southwest” by Wayne Ranney
Date: November 6, 2010 at 1:00 PM
Location: Deer Valley Rock Art Center
3711 W. Deer Valley Road, two blocks west of 35th Avenue.
Cost: Free
For more information: Contact Kim Arth kimberly.arth@asu.edu Telephone: 623-582-8007
Details from the press release sent out by Deer Valley Rock Art Center:
The American Southwest is world-renown for its colorful rocks and spectacular landscape features like the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, the Superstition Mountains, and the Petrified Forest. But how did these wonders come to exist and what can ordinary rocks tell us about their ancient history? Audiences will be amazed to learn that the Southwest was once the site of warm, tropical beaches; shifting dunes in sandy, Sahara-like deserts; coastlines stalked by large dinosaurs; and rivers that once flowed towards the present-day site of the Rocky Mountains. These long-lost and surprising scenes from the past come alive in newly created maps that are visually stunning and scientifically accurate. Travel backward and forward in time with scientist Wayne Ranney, author of numerous award-winning books on Southwestern geology.
Wayne Ranney has worked and lived in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, traveled to both the North and South Poles, and has visited over 75 countries. He takes listeners on a fascinating journey through time in the American Southwest and across the globe.
The Deer Valley Rock Art Center has the largest concentration of Native American petroglyphs in the Phoenix Valley. Visitors hike a ¼-mile trail to view over 1,500 petroglyphs made between 500 and 7,000 years ago. Our museum aims to promote preservation, connection and respect for the site and we are a destination for families to learn about archaeology in their own backyard. The Center is managed by one of the top archaeology programs in the country at Arizona State University and is a Phoenix Point of Pride.
This program is made possible by the Arizona Humanities Council.
Disclaimer: Wayne Ranney's site indicates he probably holds an evolutionistic world view. Posting this event notice is not indicative of the author's beliefs nor agreement with the views of the lecture presenter.
Comments
No offense, but this event sounds like it would be a pure evolution lecture. Not my cup of tea as one of the reasons I home school is to avoid having my kids inundated with such silly theories.
Hi Holly,
I agree that everything on Wayne Ranney's site points to a strong evolutionistic mindset. I personally don't agree with it and believe in the Creation model. Homeschooling is a wonderful venue for exploring the Christian worldview, which is nearly prohibited in most public school settings.
Although I, too, believe in Creation, sitting at the feet of many evolutionistic professors has shown me how lost evolutionists can be so I pray for them. There is much to learn though in our world that God created,. People whom He sent Jesus to die for have alot to offer in the form of education about things we may not know much about. Being selective in when we expose our kids to the world's teachings is VERY important. They will live in the world even though they are not of the world, but if we have done our job as Godly homeschooling parents, we can take advantage of education that people of the world have acquired, without adopting their histrical beliefs concerning how things were created or how they age. Our kids know the truth and if shown how, they can be light in a world of darkness. Opportunities can present themselves in the most worldy places, and our Godly views can be spoken through questions we ask, or comments we make.
God made geology, and sometimes it is the geoligists themselves that need to hear another side of history. Why not through the eys of a teenager who Knows full well how the history of geology began?
Just a few thoughts.....
Hi Denise,
Thanks for the thoughtful response. I think this points up the need for our kids to be trained in the science of creationism and the art of profitable discussion with those who have differing points of view. Open dialog which can look at premises, facts and conclusions to theories can be very helpful in causing students to diligently search out deeper answers to the controversial questions.
it would indeed be difficult for Wayne to offer tours of a site abounding in dinosaur bones and not have an 'evolutionistic world view.'
I applaud you Holly for promoting open discussion. closing one's eyes, ears and mind to an issue does not make the issue go away, nor does it do much to promote their position.
Great info Holly.. Thanks.!
interesting stuff
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