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From Questions to Inferences: Methodological Principles for the Use of Experimental Archaeology in Rock Art Research
https://doi.org/10.17746/1563-0110.2025.53.3.095-106
Abstract
This article addresses the challenge of employing experimental archaeology in rock art research and proposes a structured framework to guide the design and implementation of experiments in this field. It distinguishes between experimental and experiential archaeology, establishing that proper experiments require solid theoretical foundations and rigorous hypothesis testing. A comprehensive methodological approach is then presented, involving trict control of variables and a sequential strategy of pilot, systematic, and replicative experiments that balances internal and external validity. Building on an illustrative example concerning how paint composition influences the long-term preservation of rock art images, the article demonstrates how experimental procedures can conform to standards of scientific rigor, reproducibility, and archaeological relevance. In this context, it addresses aspects related to the connection between laboratory-controlled conditions and field validation, which are crucial to ensure both analytical robustness and contextual applicability. Furthermore, it discusses the inferential constraints of experimental data, emphasizing that these function as heuristic tools for evaluating hypothesis plausibility rather than providing absolute certainties. Ultimately, the proposed approach can be applied to explore a wide range of research questions concerning the production, preservation, and degradation of rock art, enhancing our capacity to formulate empirically grounded inferences about prehistoric artistic practices.
Keywords
Supporting agencies: This study was supported by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Grant Agreement № 101109977 – TaphArt). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
About the Author
N. Santos da Rosa
University of Bordeaux, UMR5199 PACEA; Rock Art Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand
France
France
Santos da Rosa N., Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow; Honorary Research Fellow
Batiment B2, Allee Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, CS 50023, 33615 PESSAC CEDEX;
Private Bag X3, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
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Review
For citations:
Santos da Rosa N. From Questions to Inferences: Methodological Principles for the Use of Experimental Archaeology in Rock Art Research. Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia. 2025;53(3):95-106. https://doi.org/10.17746/1563-0110.2025.53.3.095-106
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