Prehistoric Rites of Passage: A Comparative Study of Transegalitarian Hunter-Gatherers

Authors: Owens D.¹; Hayden B.²

Source: Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, Volume 16, Number 2, June 1997 , pp. 121-161(41)

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Abstract:

Footprints and handprints clearly indicate that adolescents took part in the cave rituals of Upper Paleolithic Europe. We argue that the cave paintings were created by transegalitarian hunter-gatherers. To better understand the significance of adolescent involvement in cave rituals, we undertook a study of maturation events involving rituals among ethnographic transegalitarian hunter-gatherers. Our results show that the costs associated with all of these events increase as social complexity increases and as the rank of individuals within communities increases. Furthermore, on the basis of the comparative ethnographic evidence and archaeological parameters pertaining to the different types of ritual events, we argue that the presence of adolescents in Upper Paleolithic caves suggests the initiation of elite children to secret societies.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Millennia Research, 204-10114 McDonald Park Road, North Saanich, British Columbia, V8L 5X8, Canada 2: Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada

Publication date: 1997-06-01