Palaeolithic Forms of Religious Life: A Durkheimian Approach

Abstract

This thesis uses Durkheim’s theory of effervescence supported by Gamble’s discussion of fragmentation, accumulation, consumption and enchainment (FACE) to argue that the fundamental founding principles of Palaeolithic religion began through social cohesion.
The exploration of Durkheim’s theory in relation to Palaeolithic religion enables a multidisciplinary approach unifying archaeology not only with its well established partner of anthropology but also branches of sociology and philosophy.
Through the application of Durkheimian theory to three case studies, The Small Blessings Collection at the Pitt River’s Museum, Oxford, The Arthur Evans Collection at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford and The Ice Age art exhibition at the British Museum, London I aim to explore the following themes (a) animism, (b) totemism, (c) naturism, (d) sacred, (e) profane, and finally (f) effervescence to substantiate the argument that Durkheimian effervescence is synonymous with Palaeolithic religion.
These strands come together to provide an insight into how representation through objects can allow us to construct an image of the functions of group solidarity and society which in turn denotes Durkheim’s understanding of religion which can be applied to the Palaeolithic.

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ORCID for Simon Davies: orcid.org/0000-0003-1830-5403

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