Our Work

We meticulously record each piece

A Living Archive. Prehistoric paintings and engravings still exist on six of the world’s seven continents.

With the help of leading archeologists, artists, and indigenous people, the Archive identifies and preserves culturally significant works using sophisticated photography, 3D modeling, and virtual reality technology. We meticulously record each piece in a way that captures its power and beauty.

The Archive then shares this work, allowing users – who may never be able to visit these far-flung places – to experience that work as if they were standing in front of it, allowing the deep past to move and inspire us across time, and beyond language.

Because preserving the artwork naturally draws attention to it, the Archive only shares locations of art that has protected access.

Rochester Creek, Utah

Handprints -Fish Canyon Utah

Venus of Laussel, Musee d’Aquitaine, France

Fremont pictographs, Utah

Cueva de las manos, Argentina photo by Gregory Crouch

White Lady Pictograph, Namibia

Horse Panel, Chauvet pont d’arc, France

Bulls, Alta Mira Cave, Spain

Handprint, El Castillo, Spain

Shulgan-Tash Cave, Ural Mountains, Russia photo by Robbie Shone

Rupestrial paintings near Burgos Tamaulipas, Mexico photo Jesús López

Search our ever-expanding Archive of rock art images from around the world

Image Archive

Making artwork is a basic human instinct

International Public Art Site Recommendations. Making artwork is a basic human instinct. It defines our species and joins us together.

There are millions of ancient rock art sites spread across the world. For preservation’s sake, most of the locations are kept secret. However, some sites are open to the public, and we have compiled an international list of these accessible ancient art sites we recommend visiting. Is there a site you’d like to see on the list? Suggest it here.

When visiting ancient art sites, please tread lightly. Leave things as you found them. All art sites are important, and many are central to the belief systems of the living descendants of the original artists. Please treat rock art, geoglyphs and cave art with the same respect that you would show to artworks in a church, mosque or temple. For more guidelines, please see the Friend of Cedar Mesa’s Visit with Respect page.

Explore the Sites

complex artistic mysteries

The Mural of America explores ten North American cultural landmarks that illuminate the complex artistic mysteries of the past.

Founder Stephen Alvarez and the Ancient Art Archive’s extraordinary team of anthropologists, archaeologists, and Native American artists are exploring the ten sites’ artistic wonders, the rich cultures that gave birth to them, and how they remain meaningful today.

Our work is still in progress on most of the sites, but Devilstep Hollow Cave is complete and ready for you to experience!

Explore the Sites

1. Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park, Alaska
2. Buffalo Eddy, Washington
3. Rochester Creek Panel, Utah
4. Mt. Irish, Nevada
5. Blythe Geoglyphs, California
6. San Francisco Great Mural Region, Baja
7. Seminole Canyon, Texas
8. Rock Eagle Effigy Mound,Georgia
9. Devilstep Hollow, Tennessee
10. Great Serpent Mound, Ohio

Mural of America. A Project of Ancient Art Archive