Rock Art Research

This article examines the main ways in which the history of pre-Historic rock art has been written since the end of the nineteenth century. Under the influence of models first developed by art historians, twentieth-century archaeologists typically described rock art’s story as a progressive evolution from rudimentary styles to highly realistic paintings. This master narrative remained unchallenged until the 1990s, when it became apparent that rock paintings did not progress from simple to complex works of art. With the decline of traditional chronologies, it has become essential to explore new forms of writing the history of rock images. In this context, I consider how recent debates in art history can inform archaeologists about alternative ways of telling the story of rock art. I conclude with a case study showing how Pleistocene art specialists can move forward with new narratives.