Ethnography, rock art, and quartz
James Hampson
Time and Mind October 15, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/1751696x.2026.2740230 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that animism, shamanism, and neurology explain at least some cross-regional similarities in hunter-gatherer attitudes toward rock paintings and quartz, based on intertwined archaeological and ethnographic evidence from the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Southern Africa. |
Abstract
How can hunter-gatherer worldviews be gleaned from the archaeological record? By intertwining archaeological and ethnographic studies, this article considers the relationships between rock paintings and quartz in several regions of the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Southern Africa. It demonstrates that concepts of animism, shamanism, and neurology explain at least some of the similarities in human attitudes towards symbolism and quartz. It also considers the philosophy of science and the methodologies of rock art research before addressing specific motifs at a site near Kruger National Park in South Africa.