Each individual had at least one guardian spirit. These guardians were essential to survival, and each one aided in a different part of life. The sculpture to the left is of an eagle.
The sculpture to the right is of Spedis Owl whom the Wishram use as a clan symbol. In their mythology, Spedis Owl married a cannibal woman who steals children.
Iberian petroglyph domesticated animals automatically traced from public domain image at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arte_esquematico-Pe%C3%B1apascuala.png
Neolithic cave paintings found in Tassil-n-Ajjer (Plateau of the Chasms) region of the Sahara manually traced from public domain image at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:African_cave_paintings.jpg
Source: Library of Congress Country Study of Algeria
Iberian petroglyph woman automatically traced from public domain image at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arte_esquematico-Idolo_de_Despe%C3%B1aperros.png
The rayed figure to the right represents the supernatural power which a human could gain through a vision quest. Sometimes a rock structure, such as a circle of stones, was assembled in addition to the rock art.
Much of the rock art is of animals like deer and mountain sheep, and appears to have been sympathetic magic intended to aid in hunting. The sculpture to the right, for example, depicts a mountain sheep with stylized internal organs.
Neolithic cave paintings found in Tassil-n-Ajjer (Plateau of the Chasms) region of the Sahara manually traced from public domain image at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:African_cave_paintings.jpg
Source: Library of Congress Country Study of Algeria