Rock Art Research

The history of the campaign to save the world’s reportedly largest concentration of rock art is briefly reviewed. Emphasis is given to the strategy and methodology used, and the key developments are related. It is shown how such a campaign against immensely powerful stakeholders can succeed, and how a government can be made accountable for its mistakes by cultural heritage activism. Of particular relevance are the political dimensions of such a conflict, and the need to exploit these as skilfully as possible.