ProLithicDesigns

Tucson, Arizona

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ProLithic Designs was created by Allen Denoyer, an archaeologist and artist from Salida, Colorado. Allen became interested in archaeology at an early age, and began attending Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, near Cortez, Colorado, as a high school student. Here Allen learned how to make stone tools (the technique of “flintknapping”) from Bruce Bradley, one of the world’s leading experts on stone tool manufacture. Following in the tradition of Bruce Bradley, Allen uses only antler tools and stone hammers when flintknapping, keeping his creations true to the methods employed by prehistoric people.

For the past 25 years, Allen has conducted archaeological fieldwork across much of the western United States, spending most of this time in the southwest. In addition to his archaeological pursuits, he has developed many unique forms of artistic expression. Still an avid flintknapper, Allen also manufactures masks from the agave plant, carves intricate figurines from materials such as jade, argillite, soapstone, bone, and shell, carves larger but equally intricate wooden chainsaw sculptures, and creates rock art panels. His inspiration is frequently rooted in items or design elements he has encountered through his extensive archaeological investigations. His artwork therefore reflects his intimate familiarity with, and connection to, southwestern prehistory.