I have a weird interest in prehistoric cave paintings. I like looking at them (in full-color photos; I've never seen any in person). It amazes me that humans living 30,000–40,000 years ago (in what is now Europe) created these awesome images — and that they did so deep inside hard-to-access dark caves, working by the light of torches. When I came across this book by a South African scholar, I was drawn to it because of its promise to explain something I'd never learned before: Why did those early humans make the cave paintings?

I was not disappointed. Lewis-Williams lays out a good theory, brick by brick. I wasn't 100 percent convinced, but I wouldn't be able to dispute much of what he's said. I especially liked that he brought in examples from Native American rock art and also examples from his area of expertise, the rock art of the San Bushmen of southern Africa. Eventually I reached a part where I felt like he was rehashing [b: The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind|22478|The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind|Julian Jaynes|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1388305401s/22478.jpg|1311139] without even referring to it (he did finally talk about that book in his final pages), and I got a bit weary after that. However, I loved his arguments about why these paintings are not "art" (in spite of what the title says), and probably not "communication" in most senses of the word.

I enjoyed the trippy parts about hallucinations and shamans of many cultures. It was especially nice how the author frequently cited anthropologists' work on the roles of shamans in pre-industrial societies and what living shamans have said in interviews about their experiences. Rather than relying solely on the role of myth in traditional societies and facts about hallucinogenic substances, he discusses the reports given by shamans and connects those to a theory of why some of our ancient ancestors in Europe made the cave paintings. I enjoyed the care with which he supported his arguments even when I didn't fully agree.

Absolutely fascinating read. Took the virtual tour of the cave paintings and you are immediately transported into a somatic state of experience. You understand that the portrayed is not reality, the message lies much deeper inside of you.

Obra fascinante sobre el arte rupestre del período de tiempo conocido como el Paleolítico Superior (que abarca entre 45,000-10,000 a.e.c.). Sobre cómo y por qué se realizaron las pinturas en cuevas localizadas en Europa occidental, como Lascaux y Chauvet.
Las interpretaciones que detalla el autor, apoyadas por evidencias y metodologías científicas, hacen notar que muy probablemente las explicaciones más simplistas que a primera vista se dan sobre el arte rupestre no siempre son las correctas.
Su estudio sobre la conciencia y cómo los estados alterados de esta afectaron la cosmovisión de las comunidades de Homo Sapiens, motivando a que plasmaran sus visiones en las paredes de las cuevas, sugiere una forma diferente de imaginar cómo pudo haber sido estar presente en el momento de creación que conecta a nuestros antepasados con nosotros, a pesar del tiempo, y nos ayuda a comprender el funcionamiento del cerebro.

This was the required recommended reading for the modules "Archaeological Theory" when I was at the Sligo Institute of Technology studying Applied Archaeology. This was an excellent book and provided a great deal of food for thought. For those who despise speculation, this book may not be for you. The use of ethnographic sources helps build a picture of what might have been.

Bought this from the shop outside les Baux (?) cave in France, having been overwhelmed at the sight of such works, and the valiant efforts of the guide to explain in English. As one who has none of the expertise of some reviewers, i was truly grateful for the tour that this book gave me into an unknown world.
I appreciate that none of his arguments can be based on certainty, but it was a delight to be taken away from simplistic explanations, and to think about the way that thinking and the development of means by which newly developing desires (?) to establish permanence could have come about. And why.
Have since read others, and still find the whole issue exciting, challenging, mind opening, and uncertain.

Brilliant book, though he's a bit tough on poor old Neanderthal.