Why read The Shamans of Prehistory?

Book cover of The Shamans of Prehistory: Trance and Magic in the Painted Caves

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Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Shamans of Prehistory as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Brian D. Hayden

Author

The use of deep caves for rituals and creating extraordinary paintings has provoked many discussions on why people did this so long ago. There are many theories, but one of the most discussed ideas is that the paintings were produced by shamans as records of their spiritual visions, or to connect with their animal spirit helpers. Lewis-Williams and Clottes are the leading proponents of this interpretation. They rely on comparisons of the Stone Age art with art produced in historic times by Bushman shamans in South Africa. This is an excellent introduction to Paleolithic art and arguments about the art.…

From Brian's list on The best books on prehistory and what life was like in the Stone Age.