David Lewis-Williams
David Lewis-Williams is a very smart person who studies ancient things called cave paintings. Cave paintings are pictures that were made by people a long, long time ago on the walls of caves. These people lived thousands of years ago and they left these paintings for us to see and understand how they lived.
Now, David Lewis-Williams wants to understand what these cave paintings mean. He tries to figure out what the people who made these paintings were thinking or feeling. He looks at the different shapes and colors in the paintings and tries to find patterns.
Lewis-Williams thinks that these cave paintings might have been made during special experiences called altered states of consciousness. This is when people's minds are different from normal. They might have been in a special state of mind when they made these paintings. Maybe they used herbs or did rituals to change how they feel.
When people are in altered states of consciousness, they might see things that are not really there. They might see strange patterns or colors. And sometimes, they might see things that are very important to them, like animals or people.
Lewis-Williams suggests that the people who made these cave paintings might have used these altered states of consciousness to connect with a spiritual world. They might have seen animals or people that were very special to them. These animals and people might have been like their gods or ancestors.
By studying these cave paintings, Lewis-Williams can learn about ancient people's beliefs, their rituals, and how they connected with their spiritual world. He can also learn about how they lived and what was important to them.
So, David Lewis-Williams is like a detective who solves a mystery. He looks at these cave paintings and uses his knowledge to understand what ancient people thought and felt. He helps us learn about the past and how people long ago lived and worshipped.
Now, David Lewis-Williams wants to understand what these cave paintings mean. He tries to figure out what the people who made these paintings were thinking or feeling. He looks at the different shapes and colors in the paintings and tries to find patterns.
Lewis-Williams thinks that these cave paintings might have been made during special experiences called altered states of consciousness. This is when people's minds are different from normal. They might have been in a special state of mind when they made these paintings. Maybe they used herbs or did rituals to change how they feel.
When people are in altered states of consciousness, they might see things that are not really there. They might see strange patterns or colors. And sometimes, they might see things that are very important to them, like animals or people.
Lewis-Williams suggests that the people who made these cave paintings might have used these altered states of consciousness to connect with a spiritual world. They might have seen animals or people that were very special to them. These animals and people might have been like their gods or ancestors.
By studying these cave paintings, Lewis-Williams can learn about ancient people's beliefs, their rituals, and how they connected with their spiritual world. He can also learn about how they lived and what was important to them.
So, David Lewis-Williams is like a detective who solves a mystery. He looks at these cave paintings and uses his knowledge to understand what ancient people thought and felt. He helps us learn about the past and how people long ago lived and worshipped.