You're not the only person who is fascinated by paleolithic faith. It is a fascinating subject that has fascinated scientists for centuries. However, theories about the origins of religion cannot be based on archaeological findings alone. We can only speculate about these theories by looking at later phenomena. Let's discuss some of the main questions surrounding paleolithic religion.
Animism
Animism is a religion which originated in prehistoric times. It emphasizes the spiritual link between humans, animals, and all other living creatures. Many indigenous cultures worldwide practice this religion.
Ancestor worship
There are many aspects to the idea of ancestor worship in paleolithic religious. While its origins are unknown the evidence strongly suggests that humans may have had ancestors. An ancestor was an individual who shared a relationship with their descendant. They could have played an active role in the community.
Animism in the Upper Paleolithic
Paleolithic religions still remain mysterious. We know very little about what was going on. But there is some evidence that humans and other animals were religiously involved. The paintings and drawings on cave walls depict animals, and humans often exhibit animal attributes. Many of these paintings and drawings also depict hybrid human/animal forms. Some of these animal-human hybrids appear to be so masked they could be mistaken for sorcerers or masked performers.
Animism in Middle Paleolithic
In the Middle Paleozoic, animism was a religious tradition where people worship dead animals. Animals are often considered to be the spiritual abodes of their forefathers. Many cultures also believe animals have souls. Some animists attribute certain attributes to dead animals such as the ability judge how others treat them and to exact revenge on the hunter.
Lower Paleolithic: Animism
A debate surrounds whether or not animism was present in the Lower Paleolithic age. In this article I will consider the perspectives of two leading scholars. Richard Wagner, an anthropologist who wrote The Anthropology of the Subject, is one. Another is N. Bird-David, who has revisited the issue of animism and relational epistemology in his book How persons become things.