Rock Art Research

Visitor books have been used at rock art sites both as a means for visitor control and for public education. Various claims have been made about their usefulness in the management of rock art, including the determination of visitor numbers and origins, the assessment of visitor attitudes to rock art sites and management practices, as evidence of an official management presence and a means to redirect graffiti away from rock surfaces, and as an interpretive medium for the public. This paper evaluates these claims through an analysis of visitor books from two rock art sites in Carnarvon Gorge, central Queensland, and a comparison with other visitor book studies. It was found that most of the claims could be upheld, although it is argued that in some instances additional independent analyses are required to confirm results.