An experimental investigation into the oxygen consumption of upper palaeolithic illumination technology: a response to Kedar, Kedar, & Barkai

Abstract

Upper Palaeolithic parietal art is frequently found deep within cave systems where illumination technologies were required for art production. Kedar, Kedar, & Barkai hypothesise that the oxygen consumption of illumination technology, combined with the poor ventilation of deep cave chambers, resulted in a hypoxia-induced altered-state-of-consciousness which incentivised ritual activity and influenced art production. This experimental research investigates the oxygen consumption of fat-burning lamps and finds that they extinguish at 17% oxygen concentration, which is far above the threshold for hypoxia-induced-ASC. Additionally, the production of exhaust-gases from fat-burning lamps is also investigated, finding that neither carbon monoxide nor carbon dioxide is produced at a high enough rate to induce an altered-state-of-consciousness. This experiment therefore does not support Kedar, Kedar, & Barkai’s hypothesis.