Toward decolonizing rock art research: it takes a revolution

Biases in North American rock art research have privileged Western data, approaches, and values. These biases include the concept of unilinear cultural evolution, untested assumptions about division of labour by sex, amplifying archaeological data over ethnography and Indigenous knowledge, focusing on the visual aspects of rock art rather than associated behaviours, equating Native American rock art to fine art in Western cultures, and assumptions of universal male primacy and binary thought-ways. Theoretical advancements in rock art research are now correcting earlier biases. Many researchers are now considering Indigenous thought-ways, historical factors, historically related ethnographic data, and landscape. Rock art research has moved towards directly involving Native American communities following changes in historic preservation and religious freedom laws in the US and Canada. Collaborative and Native American-led projects have provided new insights and sensitivity to the subdiscipline. With this strong start, rock art research can continue to decolonize itself by centring Native American knowledge and concerns, considering context and practice as well as symbolism, and applying historically related ethnographic and archaeological data.