TY - JOUR
T1 - Hypoxia in Paleolithic decorated caves
T2 - the use of artificial light in deep caves reduces oxygen concentration and induces altered states of consciousness
AU - Kedar, Yafit
AU - Kedar, Gil
AU - Barkai, Ran
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - In this paper, we present a novel hypothesis as to what led humans in the Upper Paleolithic to penetrate and decorate deep, dark caves. Many of the depictions in these caves are located in halls or narrow passages deep in the interior, navigable only with artificial light. We simulated the effect of torches on oxygen concentrations in structures similar to Paleolithic decorated caves and showed that the oxygen quickly decreased to levels known to induce a state of hypoxia. Hypoxia increases the release of dopamine in the brain, resulting in hallucinations and out-of-body experiences. We discuss the significance of caves in indigenous world views and contend that entering these deep, dark environments was a conscious choice, motivated by an understanding of the transformative nature of an underground, oxygen-depleted space. The cave environment was conceived as both a liminal space and an ontological arena, allowing early humans to maintain their connectedness with the cosmos. It was not the decoration that rendered the caves significant; rather, the significance of the chosen caves was the reason for their decoration.
AB - In this paper, we present a novel hypothesis as to what led humans in the Upper Paleolithic to penetrate and decorate deep, dark caves. Many of the depictions in these caves are located in halls or narrow passages deep in the interior, navigable only with artificial light. We simulated the effect of torches on oxygen concentrations in structures similar to Paleolithic decorated caves and showed that the oxygen quickly decreased to levels known to induce a state of hypoxia. Hypoxia increases the release of dopamine in the brain, resulting in hallucinations and out-of-body experiences. We discuss the significance of caves in indigenous world views and contend that entering these deep, dark environments was a conscious choice, motivated by an understanding of the transformative nature of an underground, oxygen-depleted space. The cave environment was conceived as both a liminal space and an ontological arena, allowing early humans to maintain their connectedness with the cosmos. It was not the decoration that rendered the caves significant; rather, the significance of the chosen caves was the reason for their decoration.
KW - Air circulation
KW - altered state of consciousness
KW - decorated caves
KW - dopamine
KW - hypoxia
KW - ontology
KW - oxygen concentration
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103373062&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/1751696X.2021.1903177
DO - 10.1080/1751696X.2021.1903177
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AN - SCOPUS:85103373062
SN - 1751-696X
VL - 14
SP - 181
EP - 216
JO - Time and Mind
JF - Time and Mind
IS - 2
ER -