Bradshaw Foundation Rock Art News
Bradshaw Foundation Rock Art News
Bradshaw Foundation Rock Art News
Bradshaw Foundation - Latest News
Hunting magic in rock art
Monday 09 December 2019

Rock art theories: a brief overview of the salient theories concerning Palaeolithic rock art in Europe and around the world.

Hunting Magic

In the early 1900's, the theories concerning rock art were known as 'utilitarian', triggered by the work of Walter Baldwin Spencer and Francis J Gillen on the Arunta of Central Australia. This was endorsed by the likes of Salomon Reinach, Henri Breuil - Abbé Breuil - and Count Bégouën.

Rock art theories overview Palaeolithic rock art Europe around the world hunting magic
Abbé Breuil and Count Bégouën visiting Lascaux in 1940

The theory stated that the Palaeolithic paintings had a magic-religious cause; by painting the animals it would multiply their numbers. 'Hunting magic' was associated with 'sympathetic magic' whereby an act would influence reality. This utilitarian approach was unashamedly functional, linking the art to the supply of food.

Article continues below
Article continues

The theory gradually became more elaborate; by painting or carving the animal the artist would gain the strength of that animal, or even be protected by it. Or perhaps it was a form of trophy. It might also have been a method of mental preparation for the hunt.

Rock art theories overview Palaeolithic rock art Europe around the world hunting magic
Walter Baldwin Spencer with Arunta elders of Central Australia in 1896

But with these 'hunting' explanations came the need - and desire - to prove them. Did they stack up? Analysis showed that the Palaeolithic diets, based on faunal bones found near the rock art sites, did not really reflect the animals depicted. For example at Lascaux, 90% of the bones were from reindeer, but there is only one painting of the reindeer.

Researchers accepted that some elements of the hunting magic theory were legitimate, but it certainly didn't explain everything; it was too simple given the complexity and variety of the compositions and further explanations were sought.

Rock Art
Held accountable for damage to rock art in Spain
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 09 August 2024
Scientific Exploration Society
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 24 July 2024
New dating for the oldest known rock art in Indonesia
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 04 July 2024
Petroglyphs in the Asir Province of Saudi Arabia
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 01 July 2024
Rock carvings rediscovered in Central Brazil
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 20 March 2024
Petition to save Vingen petroglyphs in Norway
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
Norway's Vingen petroglyphs at risk
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
BRAG 2024 in Scotland
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 01 February 2024
Sahara Rock Art Expedition: Algeria 2024
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 28 November 2023
Neanderthal art claimed in the Loire Valley
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 23 November 2023
Cave art discovered on Crete
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 20 November 2023
Petroglyphs of Checta receive Congressional protection
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 31 October 2023
Jean Clottes attends tribute
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 26 October 2023
Pictograph vandalism in Ontario
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 20 September 2023
Sahara & Aïr Mountains Safari in Niger 2023
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 17 July 2023
Rock Art & Wilderness Safari in Namibia 2023
by Bradshaw Foundation
Sunday 09 July 2023
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation
on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation
on social media for news & updates
If you have enjoyed visiting this website
please consider adding a link © Bradshaw Foundation
 
 
ROCK ART NETWORK
Rock Art Network Bradshaw Foundation Getty Conservation Institute
ROCK ART
Held accountable for damage to rock art in Spain
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 09 August 2024
Scientific Exploration Society
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 24 July 2024
New dating for the oldest known rock art in Indonesia
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 04 July 2024
Petroglyphs in the Asir Province of Saudi Arabia
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 01 July 2024
Rock carvings rediscovered in Central Brazil
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 20 March 2024
Petition to save Vingen petroglyphs in Norway
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
Norway's Vingen petroglyphs at risk
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
BRAG 2024 in Scotland
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 01 February 2024
Sahara Rock Art Expedition: Algeria 2024
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 28 November 2023
Neanderthal art claimed in the Loire Valley
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 23 November 2023
Cave art discovered on Crete
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 20 November 2023
Petroglyphs of Checta receive Congressional protection
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 31 October 2023
Jean Clottes attends tribute
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 26 October 2023
Pictograph vandalism in Ontario
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 20 September 2023
Sahara & Aïr Mountains Safari in Niger 2023
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 17 July 2023
Rock Art & Wilderness Safari in Namibia 2023
by Bradshaw Foundation
Sunday 09 July 2023
Bradshaw Foundation Donate Friends
Support our work & become a
Friend of the Foundation
 
 
 
Bradshaw Foundation YouTube
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store