Exploring the Petroglyphs

Ryno Kruger is an Honors student and psychology major who had the chance to explore new disciplines and use his skills of inquiry in Honors 220 class “Book of Life: Going Viral.”

During fall semester the class visited Freemont Indian State Park to look at hieroglyphics, petroglyphs, and examples of living conditions. They also stopped by Cove Fort to study Church History and early communication processes.

What surprised Ryno most about the trip was how the beliefs of the early Freemont Indians surrounding creation and biology is not far off from those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Freemont believed in a creator and a "mother earth” and had ordinances that involved individuals progressing, such as young men progressing into adulthood.

For Ryno, the best part of the trip was visiting Cove Fort and learning about church history and methods of communication during the early 1900s. The Cove Fort historic site is home to a rock fort that protected telegraph lines and travelers on the road between Salt Lake City and settlements further south.

To get the most out of the trip, Ryno used what he learned about interdisciplinary thinking to dig deeper than just what was on the surface. His interest and excitement made learning about the meaning behind some of the rock paintings and Freemont Indians fascinating.

Ryno is an International Student from South Africa. For his Honors thesis, Ryno is investigating the influence of genetics on the level of sociality in individuals. He thinks certain genes that code for increase social behavior could help researchers understand why certain individuals find it easier to socialize than others. He hopes to go on to graduate school next year and pursue a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, further studying the interaction between genes and the environment. He plans to graduate in April 2019.