Abstract
Pictographs believed to result from shamanic trance activities occur in some central Montana rock art sites. Symbolic self-portraits of shamans, with identification based on ethnographic analogy, are considered the most basic artistic evidence of shamanism. However, when attempting to infer shamanistic activity from rock art, it is necessary to test function with as many models as possible. Pictographs in Dillinger Cave (24CA346) in central Montana have been broadly classified as ceremonial based on setting and figure analogy. Figures at this cave serve as selectively the best test case in central Montana for the Neuropsychological Model of Lewis-Williams and Dawson (1988), which focuses on identifying kinds of figures that might be drawn during trance. Analysis indicates that Dillinger Cave figures resemble images created during an altered state of consciousness, supporting the shamanistic function of the art. However, concordance with the model does not establish that elements were drawn during trance, explain why or how trance may have been entered, or indicate cultural meaning of the drawings.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
