Rock art in the form of pictographs (drawings or paintings) and petroglyphs (carvings or inscriptions) have been discovered in places such as Spain, France, Scandinavia, Finland, Northeast Asia, and Siberia dating as far back as 700,000 BCE. The pictographs were done by applying different coloured dyes to the rock wall using fingers and possibly brushes. Petroglyphs were made by carving into the rock using stone tools.
The exact meanings behind these images are still unknown, but there are many theories. Some researchers say they could be related to prehistoric religion such as shamanic beliefs and practices. With the influence of shamans and having a connection to the spirit world, many believe rock is to be part of their ceremonies. Based on the large amounts of animal paintings, it can be assumed that these people we documenting hunting patterns.
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/pictographs-and-petroglyphs
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