Provider: Moravian Museum, Brno, Czech Republic TY - JOUR JO - Anthropologie (Brno) TI - Crisis in Palaeolithic Art Studies AU - Bednarik RG Y1 - 1996 VL - 34 IS - 1-2 PB - Moravian Museum, Brno, Czech Republic SN - 0323-1119 SP - 123 EP - 130 KW - Palaeolithic art KW - Bias KW - Dating KW - Style KW - Iconity KW - Taphonomy KW - Fakes KW - Misidentification KW - Metamorphology KW - Scientific testing N2 - N2 - This review of recent developments in the study of Palaeolithic art explains some of the factors that have led to a crisis in confidence in this field. In particular, the mounting difficulties experienced with dating of rock art, the tenuous status of stylistic models, the inadequate understanding of taphonomic effects on palaeoart, and the selectiveness in what is considered and what is omitted are found to be major obstacles individually. However, collectively these and still other factors indicate that this field is reaching an alarming crisis level. Claims predicated on existing models, and especially on authority, are no longer necessarily viable, and there emerges a clear need for the discipline to subject itself to more rigorous review. Restraint in interpretation is required, and the introduction of scientific data acquisition and testing methods is advocated. ER -