'Meaning' in southern African San rock art: Another impasse?

Today researchers agree that southern African San rock art dealt with issue s that lay at the heart of San society and belief. Yet points of comparativ ely minor disagreement have tended to give an altogether different impressi on. This article addresses some theoretical, methodological and logical mis understanding that complicate the literature and that have created what app ears to be an impasse. It is argued that, once the true nature of these dis putes had been recognised, researchers will be able to move forward to more substantive matters.