An experimental investigation into the oxygen consumption of upper palaeolithic illumination technology: a response to Kedar, Kedar, & Barkai
A. Whitehead, Christopher L. Scott, Jennifer C. French
Time and Mind August 11, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/1751696x.2025.2534133 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental research Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Fat-burning lamps |
| Keywords | Consumption sociology Oxygen Archaeology Aesthetics |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Fat-burning lamps extinguish at 17% oxygen concentration and produce exhaust gases at rates too low to induce hypoxia or altered states of consciousness, contradicting the hypothesis that oxygen consumption from illumination technology caused such states. |
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.