How Anthropologists Interpret Cave Art - 1381 Words

Anthropology 1AA3 – Critical Analysis Two A prehistoric archaeologist’s goal, as per Scupin and DeCorse (2013:5), is to decipher the beliefs and mindset of past societies, particularly early inhabitants of Europe and America, through their material culture, such as the cave art found in Lascaux. This cave, located in southern France, contains what is believed to be one of the oldest artistic representations of wild animals and art; it has captured the interest of numerous scientists, philosophers and historians, all of whom wish to make sense of these enigmatic images (Lippit 2002:20). With the multitude of minds working to decode these images, it comes as no surprise that there are a variety of unique interpretations of these paintings†¦show more content†¦This mental stress manifests itself in the form of art; the violent nature of the scene is explained by Bataille (1961) to signify humanity’s estrangement from the natural world (as cited in Lippit 20 02:27). All in all, though the actual nature of the struggle is explained differently by the two authors, one conclusion of the significance of Lascaux between the two articles is that it shows the difficulties and challenges of life. Drawing from the previously described interpretation, the cave could be associated with shamanism and held religious significance. Through indirect speculations, another method by which anthropologists interpret cave art, Rheingold (1991) deciphered the scene as one meant to induce â€Å"an altered state of consciousness† to gain knowledge (as cited in Lippit 2002:23). This is essentially what a shaman is; shamans are specialized healers who go-between the spirit world and humans by altering their mental state to accomplish their duties (Miller et al. 2013:199). This would make Lascaux a site of spiritual value. Lechler (1951:283) believed that these cultures believed in totems, which can be connected to healing and shamanism as well. The religi ous aspect to Lascaux is not thoroughly understood, but both article makes reference to it. In their own ways, the authors take existing ruins and mysterious symbols as signs of rituals and other sacredShow MoreRelatedIs Art Important For Human Evolution?901 Words   |  4 PagesArt is crucial to human evolution because it is both a medium of expression that allows humans to evolve and is also key evidence of human evolution. The development and evolution of the human conscious has a direct correlation to the art created from each time period and has allowed researchers to interpret it, using it as a gateway into early human life. Art acts as a window into the minds and lifestyles of our ancestors. It has influenced the development, evolution, and the process of naturalRead More The Unwritten History of Cave Paintings Essay1613 Words   |  7 PagesHowever, in the 1860s, a new art was discovered that changed the view of human creation forever. This new insight was cave painting. 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