Indirect methods

Robert G. Bednarik auranet@optusnet.com.au

Pictogram of spirit being, Australia

TRADITIONAL METHODS OF ROCK ART DATING

Without at least some idea of the age of rock art, this class of evidence is of no help to the archaeologist, because except in rare cases it can be linked to archaeological constructs only by one factor: its age. Therefore the question of antiquity has been foremost in the mind of researchers for as long as rock art has been studied. The methods that have been employed to this end until recent times are defined as 'indirect dating' and can broadly be described as falling into the categories of iconographic determination, stylistic claims, presumed technique of execution, association with archaeological finds by excavation, 'dating' of final sealing off of cave or rockshelter; topographic proximity, weathering and patination study, superimposition of motifs, and a combination of two or more of these approaches.

On the following pages these traditional approaches are divided into five headings:

1. Iconography

2. Style and technique

3. Exacavation and proximity

4. Patination and weathering

5. Superimposition

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Rock art dating

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References

List of references for rock art dating

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