As we have just seen, some rock art was made to last – especially petroglyphs and engravings – and hence ‘not only the act of producing a picture counted but also its constant presence and power in everyday life’ (Lenssen-Erz in Solomon 2008: 79). Although by no means all rock art need necessarily have been religious in function – many other motives certainly existed – one can see evidence for its sacredness, in the physical effort invested in producing it and in its degree of concealment.

As in the ancient past (e.g., in the cave of Les Trois Frères, as discussed later), in the present there are cases in which the art is still revered and visited, and offerings made to it, or rituals carried out in front of it. Many examples can be cited from places as far afield as Argentina, China, Mali, and elsewhere. The meanings of rock art may have been multiple even within the culture that produced it, with people of different sex, age, or degree of initiation understanding it differently or at different levels, but its meaning will also have changed markedly through time, and it is fascinating that these powerful images still play a major role in many cultures.