Scientific methodology in palaeoart studies

Resumen

Most of the world’s surviving paleoart (art-like productions of pre-literate societies) occurs in the form of rock art, which is found in nearly all countries of the world. Its study by scientifi c methods is a historically recent development, especially of the last three decades. In this short time the scientifi c methodology applied to rock art has evolved with the help of several disciplines. Foremost among these are nuclear physics, forensic science, geochemistry, geomorphology, conservation science, ethnography, semiotics, but many others have also contributed. As a result a number of specifi c approaches have been developed. This emerging methodology is briefl y defi ned here.