Leslie Van Gelder
Encyclopedia
Leslie Van Gelder is an archaeologist, writer, and educator whose primary work involves the study of Paleolithic Finger Flutings in Rouffignac Cave
and Gargas Cave in Southern France.
Working with her husband, the late archaeologist and theologian Kevin Sharpe, she spent 10 years developing methodologies to study finger flutings. Their work, building on the internal analysis concepts established by Alexander Marshack
, was the first to be able to establish unique identities of cave artists through the study of individual hands and the application of 2D:4D finger studies. Their work on finger flutings was the first to show symbolic behavior by children in the Paleolithic through the creation of tectiforms in Rouffignac. Later work showed the role of women and children in the creation of cave art in Rouffignac. Their application of Zipf's Law from communications theory also gave the first replicable methodology for determining whether or not fluted panels represented purposeful communication or a proto form of writing. Today Van Gelder continues to research in Rouffignac and Gargas caves and lectures internationally. Her current research focuses on the role of children in both caves. She is a Program Director at Walden University
’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership.
, she spent periods of her childhood involved in field work with him in East Africa and in the U.S. National Parks. From 1985-1989 she worked for the Quebec-Labrador Foundation
teaching environmental education in outport communities in eastern Canada. Later she taught high school in northern New Jersey and left in 1998 to pursue a Ph.D. in Place Studies at the Union Institute and University for which she was the recipient of the Sussman Award. Her work in Place Studies appeared in a number of journals including the Journal of Implicit Religion, Nature in Story and Legend, Green Letters, as well as within the monograph Weaving a Way Home: A Personal Journey of Place and Story published by the University of Michigan Press 2008.
She is the facilitator of the Roundstone Conversation on Place and Story which has, since 2004, annually brought together writers on the subject of Place and Story to the home of writer cartographer Tim Robinson
. Past attendees have included Joseph Meeker, Ron Engel, Patrick Curry, John Elder, Moya Cannon
, Patricia Monaghan
, Nuala O’Faolin among others.
She was married to archaeologist and theologian, Kevin Sharpe until his death in 2008. She lives in the Rees Valley of New Zealand near the community of Glenorchy.
, curator of Mammalogy at the American Museum of Natural History, was her father. Lawrence Van Gelder
, her uncle, was a senior editor at The New York Times until his retirement in 2008. Her brother, Gordon Van Gelder
, is a Hugo Award winning science fiction editor. Her brother Russell Van Gelder is chairman of ophthalmology at University of Washington.
Mysteries of Rock Art Probed http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2010/09/mysteries-of-prehistoric-rock.html
Children of Prehistory: Stone Age Children Left Their Mark on Cave Art and Stone Tools http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Children+of+prehistory%3A+Stone+Age+kids+left+their+marks+on+cave+art...-a0163264035
Kevin Sharpe http://www.ksharpe.com
Rouffignac Cave
The Rouffignac cave, situated within the French commune of Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac in the Dordogne département, contains over 250 engravings and cave paintings dating back to the Upper Paleolithic.- Geography and description of the cave :...
and Gargas Cave in Southern France.
Working with her husband, the late archaeologist and theologian Kevin Sharpe, she spent 10 years developing methodologies to study finger flutings. Their work, building on the internal analysis concepts established by Alexander Marshack
Alexander Marshack
Alexander Marshack was an American independent scholar and Paleolithic archaeologist. He was born in The Bronx and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from City College of New York, and worked for many years for Life magazine.-Archaeology career:Despite lacking a PhD, Marshack became a...
, was the first to be able to establish unique identities of cave artists through the study of individual hands and the application of 2D:4D finger studies. Their work on finger flutings was the first to show symbolic behavior by children in the Paleolithic through the creation of tectiforms in Rouffignac. Later work showed the role of women and children in the creation of cave art in Rouffignac. Their application of Zipf's Law from communications theory also gave the first replicable methodology for determining whether or not fluted panels represented purposeful communication or a proto form of writing. Today Van Gelder continues to research in Rouffignac and Gargas caves and lectures internationally. Her current research focuses on the role of children in both caves. She is a Program Director at Walden University
Walden University
Walden University is a private, for-profit, specialized distance learning institution of higher education. Headquartered in the Mills District in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Walden University offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Public...
’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership.
Biography
Van Gelder was born in 1969 in Manhattan. As daughter of American Museum of Natural History curator Richard Van GelderRichard Van Gelder
Richard George Van Gelder was a prominent mammalogist who served as the Curator of Mammalogy for the American Museum of Natural History in New York for more than twenty-five years...
, she spent periods of her childhood involved in field work with him in East Africa and in the U.S. National Parks. From 1985-1989 she worked for the Quebec-Labrador Foundation
Quebec-Labrador Foundation
- Quebec-Labrador Foundation :Quebec-Labrador Foundation/Atlantic Center for the Environment is a not-for-profit organization in the U.S. and a registered charity in Canada...
teaching environmental education in outport communities in eastern Canada. Later she taught high school in northern New Jersey and left in 1998 to pursue a Ph.D. in Place Studies at the Union Institute and University for which she was the recipient of the Sussman Award. Her work in Place Studies appeared in a number of journals including the Journal of Implicit Religion, Nature in Story and Legend, Green Letters, as well as within the monograph Weaving a Way Home: A Personal Journey of Place and Story published by the University of Michigan Press 2008.
She is the facilitator of the Roundstone Conversation on Place and Story which has, since 2004, annually brought together writers on the subject of Place and Story to the home of writer cartographer Tim Robinson
Tim Robinson
Tim Robinson is an English former cricketer, and current cricket umpire, who played in 29 Tests and 26 ODIs for England from 1984 to 1989....
. Past attendees have included Joseph Meeker, Ron Engel, Patrick Curry, John Elder, Moya Cannon
Moya Cannon
Moya Cannon is an Irish author.Cannon was born in 1956 in Dunfanaghy, County Donegal. She studied History and Politics at University College Dublin, and at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge....
, Patricia Monaghan
Patricia Monaghan
Patricia Monaghan, Ph.D., is one of the pioneers of the contemporary women's spirituality movement. She is the author of more than 15 books of poetry and nonfiction, including the two volume Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines...
, Nuala O’Faolin among others.
She was married to archaeologist and theologian, Kevin Sharpe until his death in 2008. She lives in the Rees Valley of New Zealand near the community of Glenorchy.
Family
She is the widow of Kevin Sharpe. Richard Van GelderRichard Van Gelder
Richard George Van Gelder was a prominent mammalogist who served as the Curator of Mammalogy for the American Museum of Natural History in New York for more than twenty-five years...
, curator of Mammalogy at the American Museum of Natural History, was her father. Lawrence Van Gelder
Lawrence Van Gelder
Lawrence Van Gelder is an American journalist and instructor in journalism who has worked at several different New York City-based newspapers in his long career. Until 2010 he was senior editor of the Arts and Leisure weekly section of The New York Times...
, her uncle, was a senior editor at The New York Times until his retirement in 2008. Her brother, Gordon Van Gelder
Gordon Van Gelder
Gordon Van Gelder is a Hugo Award-winning American science fiction editor. As of 2008, Van Gelder is both editor and publisher of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, for which he has twice won the Hugo Award for Best Editor Short Form...
, is a Hugo Award winning science fiction editor. Her brother Russell Van Gelder is chairman of ophthalmology at University of Washington.
External links
Cracking the Code in the Rocks http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2010/09/cracking-the-code-in-the-rocks.htmlMysteries of Rock Art Probed http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2010/09/mysteries-of-prehistoric-rock.html
Children of Prehistory: Stone Age Children Left Their Mark on Cave Art and Stone Tools http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Children+of+prehistory%3A+Stone+Age+kids+left+their+marks+on+cave+art...-a0163264035
Kevin Sharpe http://www.ksharpe.com