ABSTRACT
For quite some time now (Heizer & Baumhoff 1962, Von Werlhof 1965, Meighan 1966, 1969, Grant etat. 1968, Heizer & Hester 1974, Grant 1974, Thomas 1976, Brewer 1978, King 1978) rock art interpretation has been influenced by a general trend in archaeological studies which is concerned with the study of human ecology and adaptive strategies. Some exponents of this trend feel that if it can be shown that rock art is part of an adaptive strategy, i.e. 'hunting magic', then the study of rock art is justifiable (Heizer & Hester 1974). Further, it provides information regarding diet, procurement practices, and seasonality (Rector 1981), and it takes on a significance beyond that of simply being one component of a 'thin veneer' of cultural traits embracing religion and ideology (Madsen 1979).
