In the
caves, often in notable locations, there are hybrid man-animal images
that are usually referred to as sorcerers. Primitive hunting societies
identify with certain animals. They put on animal masks in their rites
and act the part. "Transformation into an animal is an integral part
of shamanism" (Lewis-Williams 202). Shamans in trance merge with
animal spirits and become animal-men. Master-animals are used as messengers
of a higher spirit. When the Pawnee went into solitude on his vision quest,
it was "Tirawa (God)... who sent his message though the animal. He
never spoke to man himself, but gave his command to beast or bird"
(Campbell-1, 18).
Prehistoric Painting: Lascaux - or the Birth of Art, text by Georges Bataille, photos by Hans Hinz, Claudio Emmer. Albert Skira publisher, Switzerland, 1955.