Paleoart and materiality. The scientific study of rock art.

BEDNARIK, R.; FIORE, D.; BASILE, M.; KUMAR, G.; HUISHENG, T.

Archaeopress

Año: 2016 p. 254

978-1-78491-429-5

The core topic of the book is the presentation of scientific approaches to the materiality of rock art, ranging from recording and sampling methods to data analyses. These share the fact that they provide means of testing hypotheses of evidence to support specific interpretations. The issue of the materiality of visual productions of the distant past, which in archaeological theory has attracted much attention recently and has stimulated much conceptual debate, is addressed through a variety of scientific approaches, including fieldwork methods, laboratory work techniques and/or data analysis protocols. These, in turn, provide new insights into human agency and people-image engagements through the study of rock art production, display and use.This book contains 19 chapters that present a wide range of topics, including: sampling protocols, chemical pigment analyses, experimental studies replicating painting techniques, dating techniques, as well as studies related to to the technology, taphonomy and tribology of petroglyphs. Case studies from Europe, Southamerica, Asia and Australia are presented and discussed in the book, showing the research potential of the methods oulined in each chapter.