<P> In archaeology, rock art is human - made markings placed on natural stone; it is largely synonymous with parietal art . A global phenomenon, rock art is found in many culturally diverse regions of the world . It has been produced in many contexts throughout human history, although the majority of rock art that has been ethnographically recorded has been produced as a part of ritual . Such artworks are often divided into three forms: petroglyphs, which are carved into the rock surface, pictographs, which are painted onto the surface, and earth figures, formed on the ground . The oldest known rock art dates from the Upper Palaeolithic period, having been found in Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa . Archaeologists studying these artworks believe that they likely had magico - religious significance . </P> <P> The archaeological sub-discipline of rock art studies first developed in the late - 19th century among Francophone scholars studying the Upper Palaeolithic rock art found in the cave systems of Western Europe . Rock art continues to be of importance to indigenous peoples in various parts of the world, who view them as both sacred items and significant components of their cultural patrimony . Such archaeological sites are also significant sources of cultural tourism, and have been utilised in popular culture for their aesthetic qualities . </P>

What is the art of drawing or painting on stone called