Rock Art Research

Questions in rock art studies need to be answered scientifically, including how can we use it for understanding the cognitive, cultural and epistemological development of humans, place rock art in proper chronological order, or effect its conservation and protection. After so many decades of applying the traditional archaeological approach, it has helped us little to answer significant research questions. For answering these questions correctly, we have to change our mindset and adopt a scientific approach. That means our studies should be based on testable propositions. We need to understand the lithology, taphonomy, topography, sedimentology, palaeoclimate of the sites and the epistemology of our ideas about rock art. We also need to be able to effectively discriminate between natural and anthropogenic rock markings and use modern recording methodology, apply scientific dating methods and learn how to conduct rock art replication.