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.
This petroglyph shows a man bent-over, signifying "old man", and without a belt or crotch line, signifying "poverty". The upper hand showing the palm at the same level as the heart signifies "good". The key to the meaning is given by the triangular symbol extending away from the buttocks.
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.
Native American petroglyph near Saint George, Utah, United States of America petroglyph manually traced from public domain image at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pictograph_tds.jpg
This version traces more accurately the outline of the figure, but makes it appear rough.
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.