"Visions from the Past is a clear and comprehensive examination of Aboriginal rock art. It is also the first book to provide a practical overview of precisely how and why archaeologists study prehistoric art. M. J. Morwood reviews the techniques, methodologies, and technologies that scientists employ and explains why their insights often cannot be gained through other types of archaeological evidence. The symbolic evidence found in rock art is virtually the only window into understanding the ideology, territoriality, resource use, and social organization of an ancient society." "More than 250 illustrations complement Morwood's in-depth analyses and reveal the beauty and richness of ancient Aboriginal culture."--BOOK JACKET.