Rock Art Studies: News of the World IV

This is the fourth in the five-yearly series of surveys of what is happening in rock art studies around the world. The aims are to present a synthesis of the status of rock art research in different regions of the world, provide information about recent projects, publications, prevailing research objectives and methods, and enable rock art researchers to relate their findings in a specific region to mainstream research results. As always, the texts reflect something of the great differences in approach and emphasis that exist in different regions, presenting examples from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the New World. Not all rock art areas are covered but some of the gaps in previous volumes have been filled. Papers consider the distribution of sites, chronology, interpretation, new surveys and publications, management and site conservation. Rock art studies are going through a period of scientific and technological development which will have an enormous impact on the quality of recording and dissemination. At the same time, many authors are concerned by problems of preservation and vandalism, and underline the crucial importance of educating local people, and the young, about the importance of this fragile and finite heritage. This aspect too will be of increasing importance in years to come.