In the search of meanings for prehistoric art, our minds are often being influenced by the modern representation of the arts. Most of the time, tracing and drawings by the researchers were given more weight in interpretation process instead of the actual photos of the art. (Tracing of prehistoric art is always a selective process.) As a result, the images represented are often 'not meant to be seen or taken as visual testimonies within their Paleolithic worlds'. 

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I have been involving in an public archaeology workshop lead by my supervisor for almost a year. Usually during the workshop, we have an interpretation session, where we share interpretations of previous research with our participants. At the same time, they will share their interpretations too, it's a two-way thing. 

Most of the time, they can't really see a motif until I showed them the tracing of the rock art panel. So if it is reversed, say, if they have seen the tracing first, will their interpretation of the rock art remains the same?

I'm fairly new to rock art research, throughout my readings I always wonder,"How are we going to decide which art is important to show, and which is not? What do the cave men see? How do we decipher correctly the messages that the ancient people wants to tell others?" 

It is impossible to know for now. But still, interpreting rock art is a fun thing to do, I mean, I can stare at the paintings whole day just to try to take a glimpse into the cave man life, to shake hands with a cave man.