Abstract

Author:
Robert G. Bednarik, translated by Baozang Yong, Xiang Wan

Doi: 10.7508/jra.02.2024.63.76

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Among the many generic explanations offered over the past two centuries for rock art production, those involving several brain illnesses and shamanism are selected for detailed analysis. These proposals are reviewed in light of the aetiologies of the psychiatric conditions linked to rock art. Some are related to the assumption that palaeoart was introduced through shamanism. Although no simplistic link between shamanism and brain disorders has been demonstrated, relevant susceptibility alleles might be involved in some shamanic experiences. No connection between rock art and shamanism has been credibly demonstrated to date. Moreover, the assumption that neuropathologies and shamanism preceded the advent of palaeoart also appears to be mistaken. It derives from the belief that palaeoart was introduced by ‘anatomically modern humans’ and on the discredited replacement hypothesis. These interlinked issues are discussed.

在过去两个世纪针对岩画创作的众多一般性解释中，本文选取了其中涉及多种脑部疾病和萨满教的解释进行详细分析，分析时考虑了与岩画有关的精神科问题的病因学。其中一些解释涉及远古艺术是通过萨满教产生的假设。尽管已证明萨满教与脑部障碍之间没有简单的联系，但某些萨满体验可能牵涉到相关的易感性等位基因。迄今为止，岩画与萨满教之间的联系尚未得到可靠证明。此外，关于神经病理学和萨满教先于古艺术出现的假设似乎也是错误的。这种假设源于“远古艺术是由‘解剖学意义上的现代人’创造的”这一观念，并基于不足信的替代假说。本文讨论了上述相互关联的问题。

KEYWORDS
Shamanism – Neuropathology – Replacement hypothesis – Domestication
萨满教，神经病理学，替代假说，驯化