The Mind in the Cave — the Cave in the Mind: Altered Consciousness in the Upper Paleolithic
David J. Lewis‐Williams, Jean Clottes
Anthropology of Consciousness March 1, 1998 DOI: 10.1525/ac.1998.9.1.13 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Key points | Argues that some Franco-Cantabrian Upper Paleolithic cave art was intimately associated with shamanic practices, and that deep caves and altered states of consciousness contributed to a subterranean spirit-world used for vision quests. |
Abstract
This brief overview argues that the evidence of the images themselves, as well as their contexts, suggests that some Franco‐Cantabrian Upper Paleolithic cave art was, at least in part, intimately associated with various shamanic practices. Universal features of altered states of consciousness and the deep caves combined to create notions of a subterranean spirit‐world that became, amongst other ritual areas, the location of vision quests.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altered States of Consciousness | 1966 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Functional neuroanatomy of altered states of consciousness: The transient hypofrontality hypothesis | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Psychedelic Mystical Experience in the Human Encounter with Death | 1969 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| A neurophenomenological approach to non-ordinary states of consciousness: hypnosis, meditation, and psychedelics | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Hypnotic phenomena and altered states of consciousness: a multilevel framework of description and explanation | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- Analogical Evidence and Shamanism in Archaeological Interpretation: South African and European Palaeolithic Rock Art Norwegian Archaeological Review June 1, 2011
- Shamanic Trance Journey with Animal Spirits: Ancient “Scientific” Strategy Dealing with Inverted Otherworld Advances in Anthropology 2018
- Archetype symbols and altered consciousness: a study of shamanic rituals in the context of Jungian psychology Frontiers in Psychology May 9, 2024
- Shamanic Imagery and Ritual Experience: An Empirical Study of Emotions, Beliefs, and States of Consciousness Religions July 11, 2025
- Immersive Cave Environments in VR: A Tool for Exploring Altered States of Consciousness and Creativity in Archaeology Applied Sciences December 19, 2024
and 8 more in the library