The importance of Palaeolithic art Example of European Palaeolithic art - from Wikipedia With our decoding of European Palaeolithic animal symbols as star constellations - probably similar to ones we continue to use today - we have initiated a new method for tracking the dispersal of people and ideas. This complements existing methods based on comparison of DNA, language, mythology and specific artefacts (such as stone tools and pottery). I discuss some of the implications in Prehistory Decoded. Comparison of DNA is probably the most useful of these methods because it is practically unlimited in terms of time depth, and it can distinguish between migration and cultural diffusion, i.e. the movement of people vs the diffusion of ideas. The archaeological record, in terms of tools etc, is probably the next most useful. The comparison of zodiacal symbols is similar to comparative mythology - we should probably view them as two sides of the same coin. But it is perhaps a little