A critical assessment of the potential and limitations of physicochemical analysis to advance knowledge on Levantine rock art

Abstract

This paper offers an updated review of the variety of physicochemical analysis applied so far to Levantine rock art (Spain) to characterize the composition of the pigments, as well as the substrate and/or the natural coating covering these particular prehistoric paintings. This paper is part of a broader special issue evaluating the real contribution of scientific approaches to rock art research, assessing how they have improved our understanding of this particular heritage and the new research questions they open. In this context, and with a focus on Levantine rock art, our aim is to explore: 1. The guiding principles behind the different sorts of analysis conducted and published so far; 2. The non-invasive and invasive techniques applied to answer the research questions raised, and 3. If the result published as yet have met the expectations of rock art researchers. We also reflect on the potential, the limitations and the future developments of this sort of studies, as well as on the ethics and desirable protocols of applying invasive techniques to this UNESCO World Heritage listed archaeological remain. While the focus is Levantine rock art, the discussions raised by this paper and the experiences reported in relation to the various techniques used are of global interest, especially when dealing with open-air rock art.