Rock Art: Definitions

Olga Soffer, an archeologist from the University of Illinois states that, "art is a social phenomenon that appears and disappears and, in some places, may not rise at all". A petroglyph is an image or a pattern of geometric patterns on rocks created by carving or digging into a rock to create the desired image. Before metal tools, most petroglyphs were scratched in the rock using bones or antlers. However, it is possible that a wide variety of tools were used in order to attain the desired effect.

A pictograph is created by painting on a rock with such things as animal blood, plant materials and other pigment materials. Many pictographs have since disappeared due to weathering. The pictograph is usually in caves or under overhanging cliffs. Common colors painted into the rocks are red, yellow, white, tan and green. The painting was done using brushes made of animal hair or hand painting.

In both pictographs and petroglyphs, the intent of the artist and the reason for choosing one figure over another remain a mystery. The reason that rock walls or cave walls were used may be based in mythical or magical beliefs, they may represent the cycle of birth and death; they may represent a form of religious belief regarding the success of the hunt or the hope that the hunt will be successful. It has also been suggested that rock art may deal with the concept of time, the desire to record the "look" of others in the group, or the possibility that they are simply "pretty pictures."

Pictographs and petroglyphs have been found all over the world. From Africa to the Americas, from Asia to South America, from Europe to Australia there is evidence that human beings utilized their surroundings to draw pictures.

Pictograph photo above is courtesy of John Roache.

Written by Kathy Roetzel, 2000