"Petroglyphs: Is There Meaning in Rock Art?" will be the topic of an Oct. 21 University Forum lecture.

Polly Schaafsma, research associate at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, N.M., will use examples of petroglyphs from the American Southwest and Australia to examine the meaning in rock art. She will also discuss why the interpretation of rock art often differs among the artist's descendants, archeological scholars, and the general public.

On Oct. 28, Andrew Bell, associate professor of history at UNLV, will present "Classical Democracy: Greece, Rome, America?"

During the lecture, Bell will discuss how the political societies of Greece and Rome both troubled and inspired the founders of the United States. He will also explore the lessons those societies can teach us about the democracy of the modern American republic.

Both lectures will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History. All University Forum lectures are free and open to the public.

The University Forum lecture series is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and is underwritten by The Jerry Kalafatis Lodge Charitable Foundation and the UNLV Foundation.