The artist in prehistoric religious ritual : servant or master?

Abstract

Research in prehistoric art falls in that area of archaeological inquiry which is commonly known as "cognitive archaeology" (Renfrew 1985; 1994). It is an area of study in which, barring those aspects for which one can be truly empirical and objective (such as the material media and techniques of execution) most of what can be deduced remains purely on the hypothetical level. The most one can aspire to achieve is to construct paradigms and archetypes (Anati 1986) or models which will withstand the test of time and of more tangible and empirical evidence (Renfrew 1986). Empathy with the society or culture under investigation is considered by many to be conducive to a better understanding of it. The person best equipped to undertake such an investigation is the ethnographer, or the cultural anthropologist, who normally does so by experiencing first hand the life and rituals of the living culture he is studying. Unfortunately, for dead prehistoric cultures, for which there is no written record, this is not possible. The closest one can get to this methodology is by practicing ethno-archaeology, the direct experience of cultures, or aspects thereof, as similar to the prehistoric one, both materially and spiritually, as possible. Here too, however, there is a great danger of falling into the usual viciously circular argument, since in order to establish the analogy between the two cultures, between the living one and the dead one, one has to exercise a certain degree of subjective judgement. In the absence of this facility of studying an analogous culture, empathy with the prehistoric culture under examination is a very important asset which places the researcher at a great advantage vis-a-vis another who lacks it. There is no doubt that it is much easier for the researcher to empathise with his subject if he is closely familiar with the environment, both physical and social, in which it has developed than another who hails from a completely alien environment.