Inaki Relanzon / View of the exterior of Shwenandaw Kyaung Monastery, made with teak wood, Mandalay, Mandalay Division, Myanmar, Burma. August 2009

Staffan Widstrand / Statue of Ramses II, obelisk and hieroglyphs, Luxor, Egypt.

Toby Sinclair / 9th century rock carving Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Gavin Hellier / Buddhist and giant stone statue of Reclining Buddha at Xieng Khuan, Vientiane, Laos South East Asia

Gavin Hellier / The Bayon Temple, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia 2010

Gavin Hellier / Looking up Totem Pole, Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains, British Columbia, Canada

Gavin Hellier / Looking up Totem Pole, Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains, British Columbia, Canada

Gavin Hellier / Looking up Totem Pole, Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains, British Columbia, Canada

Gavin Hellier / Totem Pole, Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains, British Columbia, Canada

Ernie Janes / Old carving on beech trunk (Fagus sylvatica) Felbrigg, Great Wood, Norfolk, UK, November

Philippe Clement / The Great Globe, made of Portland stone, near Durston Castle on the Isle of Purbeck along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, UK, November 2012

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Ancient rock carving of an auroch, Coa valley Archaeological park, Portugal

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Ancient rock carving of an auroch, Coa valley Archaeological park, Portugal

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Ancient rock carving of an auroch, Coa valley Archaeological park, Portugal

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Ancient rock carving of a tarpan horse, Coa valley Archaeological park, Portugal

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Ancient rock carving of iberian ibex, Coa valley Archaeological Park, Portugal

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Stone carving of Iberian lynx on Cathedral, Salamanca, Castilla y Leon, Spain

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Ancient rock carving of an auroch, Coa valley Archaeological Reserve, near the Faia Brava Reserve and Rewilding Europe Area, Portugal

Enrique Lopez-Tapia / An elephant engraved in stone Somapura Mahavihara Buddhist, Paharpur. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bangladesh. June 2012.

Jack Dykinga / Panels of rock carving depicting African wildlife, World Heritage site, Twyfelfontein, Damaraland, Namibia

Jack Dykinga / Panels of rock carving depicting African wildlife, World Heritage site, Twyfelfontein, Damaraland, Namibia

Jack Dykinga / Panels of rock carving depicting African wildlife, World Heritage site, Twyfelfontein, Damaraland, Namibia

Bernard Castelein / Pilgrim carrying out morning cleaning ritual on a carving of Shiva at 7th-9th century Hindu sacred site. Unakoti, Tripura, India, March 2012.

Bernard Castelein / Pilgrim carrying out morning cleaning ritual on a carving of Shiva at 7th-9th century Hindu sacred site. Unakoti, Tripura, India, March 2012.

Bernard Castelein / Archeological site (7th- 9th century) and Shiva pilgrimage site (Hinduism): rock carving depicting Durga or Parvati (woman with tiger). Unakoti, Tripura, India, March 2012.

Bernard Castelein / Archeological site (7th- 9th century) and Shiva pilgrimage site (Hinduism): rock carving depicting Laxman with bow. Unakoti, Tripura, India, March 2012.

Bernard Castelein / Archeological site (7th- 9th century) and Shiva pilgrimage site (Hinduism): rock carving depicting Laxman and Ram or Rama. Unakoti, Tripura, India, March 2012.

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Participant on wood-carving workshopat Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, Lampeter, Wales, UK. June 2011. Model released

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Participant on wood-carving workshop, learn from expert, Grace Young-Monaghan, at Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, Lampeter, Wales, UK. June 2011. (Model released)

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Participant on wood-carving workshop, learn from expert, Grace Young-Monaghan, at Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, Lampeter, Wales, UK. June 2011. Model released

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Wood working tools - Participants on wood-carving workshop at Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, Lampeter, Wales, UK. June 2011. Model released

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Participant on wood-carving workshop at Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, Lampeter, Wales, UK. June 2011. Model released

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Tools on workbench at wood-carving workshop, Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, Lampeter, Wales, UK. June 2011. (Model released). Close-up of work and tools.

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Participant on wood-carving workshop at Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, Lampeter, Wales, UK. June 2011. (Model released)

Charlie Summers / Tlingit (Southeast Alaskan Native American) carving on the side of the Clan House. Bight Totem State Park, Ketchikan, Alaska, July 2011.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Kiawak Ashoona, an internationally acclaimed Inuit carver from Cape Dorset, Nunavut, Canada, 2002. Editorial use only.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Copy of rock carving of a reindeer from the Alta area of North Norway.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Polar bear and cubs carved from walrus ivory. Thule, Northwest Greenland.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Four walrus ivory carved Billiken figurines from Uelen. Chukotka, Siberia, Russia.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Figure of inuit hunter fighting polar bear carved from walrus ivory. Thule, Northwest Greenland.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Ivory carving of native Siberian couple riding on a snowmobile. Tobolsk, Siberia, Russia.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Polar bear figure carved from walrus ivory. Thule, Northwest Greenland.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Three decorated buttons carved from mammoth ivory and used on traditional Dolgan clothing. Central Siberia, Russia.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Ivory carving of Chukchi driving a reindeer sled. Chukotka, Siberia, Russia.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Greenlandic Tupilak figure made from walrus ivory and polar bear fur. Thule, Northwest Greenland.

Bernard Castelein / Monpa man with typical head dress made from Yak hair carving a mask. Shurbi village, near Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India, February 2011.

Juergen Freund / Papua New Guinean artist carving Malagan wooden sculptures, the ceremonial art of New Ireland's living culture, from the soft, abundant Saba tree wood. He uses four natural pigments for paint. Kavien...

Juergen Freund / Papua New Guinean artist carving Malagan wooden sculptures, the ceremonial art of New Ireland's living culture, from the soft, abundant Saba tree wood. He uses four natural pigments for paint. Kavieng...

Juergen Freund / Papua New Guinean artist with the natural pigment he uses when carving Malagan wooden sculptures, the ceremonial art of New Ireland's living culture. The black pigment is made from a fruit of a Kalapu...

Nick Upton / Tall Bronze age granite statue menhir standing stone carved c 3,500 years ago at Filitosa with carved face and trace of a sword. Corsica, France, June 2010.

Nick Upton / Close up of Bronze age (c 3,500 year old) granite statue menhir standing stone at Filitosa with carved face. Corsica, France, June 2010.

Nick Upton / Three tall Bronze age (c 3,500 years old) granite statue menhir standing stones at Filitosa with carved faces, one with a clear sword symbol. Corsica, France, June 2010.

Nick Upton / Tall Bronze age (c 3,500 years old) granite statue menhir standing stone at Filitosa with carved face and trace of a sword, with Yellow daisies (Asteraceae) growing around the base. Corsica, France, J...

Nick Upton / Four tall Bronze age (c 3,500 years old) granite menhir standing stones with carved faces in a semi circular alignment at Filitosa, with overhanging Olive tree, Corsica, France, June 2010.

Nick Upton / I Stantari (The Petrified) alignment of Bronze age statue menhirs with carved faces erected c3,500 years ago. Cauria, Corsica, France, May 2010.

Nick Upton / Row of five Bronze age (c 3,500 year old) statue menhir standing stones at Filitosa with carved faces. Corsica, France, June 2010.

Nick Upton / I Stantari (The Petrified) alignment of late Neolithic and Bronze age statue menhirs erected c4,500 - 3,500 years ago. Cauria, Corsica, France, May 2010.

Nick Upton / Bronze age granite statue menhir at Filitosa, carved c 3,500 years ago, with grumpy face. Corsica, France, June 2010.

Nick Upton / Close up of bronze age (c 3,500 years old) granite statue menhir standing stone at Filitosa with carved face. Corsica, France, June 2010.

Juergen Freund / Carver Huimes Namusu carving a bowl out of piece of coconut tree trunk, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, Pacific, July 2010.

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Woodland carving of face at Beacon Hill Country Park, The National Forest, Leicestershire, UK. November 2010.

Brent Stephenson / The seven Moai at Ahu Akivi that stand with their backs to the sea. Easter Island, October 2009.

Brent Stephenson / Rock petroglyphs at Orongo with the "Bird Man" islets in the background. Orongo, Easter Island, October 2009.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Dogs, dogsled and figures carved in walrus ivory by the famous Magsanguassuaq. Qaanaaq, Northwest Greenland.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Elaborately engraved herd of Walrus on a small walrus ivory tusk. Uelen, Chukotka, Siberia, Russia.

Nick Upton / Turbulent water of the Soca river carving through karst limestone rocks at Velika Korita gorge, with overhanging vegetation, Julian Alps, Triglav National Park, Slovenia, July 2010.

Nick Upton / Mostnica river carving its way through karst limestone rocks, Julian Alps, Triglav National Park, Slovenia, July 2010.

Kevin Schafer / Sandstone patterns and carved doorways at the "Silk Palace". Petra, Nabataean Stone City, Jordan; a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kevin Schafer / Sandstone patterns and carved doorway at the "Silk Palace". Petra, Nabataean Stone City, Jordan; a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kevin Schafer / Sandstone patterns and carved doorways at the "Silk Palace". Petra, Nabataean Stone City, Jordan; a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kevin Schafer / Al Khazneh or the "Treasury", view from the Siq (passage leading into the city). Petra, Nabataean Stone City, Jordan. A UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kevin Schafer / Sandstone passage in Petra, Nabataean Stone City, Jordan; a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Bruno D'Amicis / Crpak, traditional carved wooden pot for drinking sheepmilk, featuring a Brown bear (Ursus arctos) attacking a sheep. West Tatras, Slovakia, August.

Angelo Gandolfi / A totem-like head carved in an ancient Sweet Chestnut tree (Castanea sativa), Corsica island, France, February 2010

Oriol Alamany / Petroglyphs representing a Tangata Manu (Bird Man) at Papa Tataku Poki, near Tongariki, Easter Island (Pascua or Rapa Nui), Unesco World Heritage Site, November 2004

Oriol Alamany / Ngarau Mata petroglyphs representing Tangata Manu or Bird-Man in the ceremonial village of Orongo, on the volcano Rano Kau, Motu Nui islet with Motu Iti and Motu Kao Kao in the background, Easter Isl...

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Ritual objects carved from Walrus ivory (circa 1000 BC - 1000 AD) Bering Strait, Chukotka, Siberia, Russia, 2004.

Eric Baccega / Inuit man sitting on steps, carving a Narwhal tusk (Monodon monoceros) with an electronic power tool, Qikiqtarjuaq village, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, August 2010

Philippe Clement / 'Fucoid beds' rock fragment, part of the Knockan Puzzle at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Highlands, Scotland, May 2010

Philippe Clement / 'Durness limestone' rock fragment, part of the Knockan Puzzle at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Highlands, Scotland, May 2010

Philippe Clement / 'Salterella grit' rock fragment, part of the Knockan Puzzle at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Highlands, Scotland, May 2010

Philippe Clement / Different layers of rock, part of the Knockan Puzzle at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Highlands, Scotland, May 2010

Philippe Clement / 'Lewisian gneiss' rock fragment, part of the Knockan Puzzle at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Highlands, Scotland, May 2010

Philippe Clement / Basal quartzite and Torridonian sandstone rock fragments, parts of the Knockan Puzzle at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Highlands, Scotland, May 2010

Philippe Clement / Torridonian sandstone rock fragment, part of the Knockan Puzzle at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Highlands, Scotland, May 2010

Philippe Clement / Different layers of rock, part of the Knockan Puzzle at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Highlands, Scotland, May 2010

Philippe Clement / 'Basal quartzite' rock fragment, part of the Knockan Puzzle at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Highlands, Scotland, May 2010

Philippe Clement / 'Pipe rock' fragment, part of the Knockan Puzzle at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Highlands, Scotland,May 2010

Philippe Clement / 'Moine schist' rock fragment, part of the Knockan Puzzle at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Highlands, Scotland, May 2010

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Glacier carving huge icebergs into sheltered fjord. Northwest Greenland, 1980.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Tiny carved ivory figure of bird, approximately 2000 years old, believed to originate from Dorset culture. Igloolik Island, Nunavut, Canada, 1992.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Tiny carved ivory figure of harpoon head, approximately 2000 years old, believed to originate from Dorset culture. Igloolik Island, Nunavut, Canada, 1992.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Tiny carved ivory figure of woman, approximately 2000 years old, believed to originate from Dorset culture. Igloolik Island, Nunavut, Canada, 1992.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Tiny carved ivory figure of seal, approximately 2000 years old, believed to originate from Dorset culture. Igloolik Island, Nunavut, Canada, 1992.

Tim Laman / Polynesian petroglyph or rock carving on the island of Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, July 2006