An experimental investigation into the oxygen consumption of upper palaeolithic illumination technology: a response to Kedar, Kedar, & Barkai

Summary

Upper Palaeolithic parietal art deep in caves required artificial lighting. Kedar, Kedar, & Barkai proposed that oxygen consumption by lamps, combined with poor ventilation, caused hypoxia-induced altered states of consciousness that influenced ritual and art. This experimental study tested fat-burning lamps and found they extinguish at 17% oxygen, well above the hypoxia threshold. Exhaust gases—carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide—were also produced at rates too low to induce altered states. The results do not support the hypoxia hypothesis.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Upper Palaeolithic parietal art is frequently found deep within cave systems where illumination technologies were required for art production. Kedar, Kedar, & Barkai hypothesise that the oxygen consumption of illumination technology, combined with the poor ventilation of deep cave chambers, resulted in a hypoxia-induced altered-state-of-consciousness which incentivised ritual activity and influenced art production. This experimental research investigates the oxygen consumption of fat-burning lamps and finds that they extinguish at 17% oxygen concentration, which is far above the threshold for hypoxia-induced-ASC. Additionally, the production of exhaust-gases from fat-burning lamps is also investigated, finding that neither carbon monoxide nor carbon dioxide is produced at a high enough rate to induce an altered-state-of-consciousness. This experiment therefore does not support Kedar, Kedar, & Barkai’s hypothesis.