Jan 28 / Paleolithic: Shamanic Dances

 


 

 Language and Spiritual Cutulture in Old Stone Age

 

 

Timetable 

 

First Ancestors 

  • Our first ancestors lived 7 million years ago
  • Bipedal, upright walking 
  • Ability to walk emerged long before humankind developed big brains.
  • Even though they walked they were still tree climbers.
  • No hominins has been found during this period yet.

---------------------- 

Homonins

  • Hominins continued to develop 
  • 4 million years ago grasping feet were lost.
  • Multiple hominin species lived simultaneously. 
  • They may have met

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Homo habilis

  • 3 million years ago hominins lived in Southern Africa.
  • Tools allowed hominins to adapt to new environments.
  • The first known stone tools were produced in Ethiopia.
  • The tools may have been produced by Homo habilis.
  • The Homo habilis is a member of our own genus group, the genus Homo

-------------------

Homo erectus 

  • 2 million years ago Homo erectus became the first hominin to migrate out of Africa.
  • Homo erectus had human-like traits such as: 
  • large brains
  • dexterous fingers
  • long legs

--------------------

Brain Growth 

  • 800,000 years ago advances in cooking was fueling further brain growth.

--------------------

Homo sapiens 

  • Our own species Homo sapiens emerged in Africa 200,000 years ago.
  • They lived alongside and interbred with other hominin species.
  • Homo sapiens were highly adaptable, quickly filing nearly every geographic niche.
  • Other hominins went extinct.
  • Climate pressures and competition with Homo sapiens may have wiped them out.
  • Although these ancient hominins are now extinct, they remain our closest relatives on the family tree.
Paleolithic /  5000 - 4001
  • The Egyptian calendar, regulated by sun and moon: 300 days, 12 months of 30 days each.
  • Earliest cities in Mesopotamia (carbon-tested dated).
4000 - 3501
 
  • End of Paleolithic along Mediterranean coastline
 
 
 -------------
 
Unit: Paleolithic
 
Theme:  Shamanic Dances

I
 
Introduction
 
The Paleolithic, also called the Old Stone Age, is a period in human prehistory that is distinguished by the original development of stone tools, and which represents almost the entire period of human prehistoric technology.  Paleolithic Period is the earliest period of human development, which lasted until approx 8000 BC. The Paleolithic Period is divided into three eras.  
 
The Lower Paleolithic (traditionally divided into the Oldowan Stage (about 2.6 million to 1 million years ago), which saw the development of pebble (chopping) tools, and the Acheulean Stage (1.7–1.5 million years ago to about 250,000–200,000 years ago), in which more sophisticated hand axes and cleaving tools emerged). During the Lower Paleolithic  simple pebble tools and crude stone choppers were made by the earliest humans.  
 
Then, the Middle Paleolithic (300,000 to 30,000 years ago), followed recording the appearance of the more advanced tool-making technologies. Whether the earliest control of fire by hominins dates to the Lower or to the Middle Paleolithic remains an open question.  
 
 The Upper Paleolithic (50,000 – 12000 BC) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. According to some theories coinciding with the appearance of behavioral modernity [abstract thinking, planning depth, exploitation of large game, blade technologies and symbolic behavior (e.g. art and ornamentation, music and dance), among others. Indications for dancing activities in prehistoric Europe appeared as early as modern humans, at the start of the Upper Palaeolithic era (40,000 BC).
 
 
 
The Löwenmensch figurine, also called the Lion-man of Hohlenstein-Stadel, is a prehistoric ivory sculpture discovered in Hohlenstein-Stadel, a German cave, in 1939.It is 40,000 to 35,000 years old.

















(17:08 - 19:06)
 
 Thrifty Gene Hypothesis



In this video Dr. Mindy Pelz talks about the Thrifty Gene hypothesis, which is based on the idea that primitive men and women were more equipped to survive than we are in modern times because this gene was activated. 
 

 Dr. Mindy H. Pelz, D.C is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, nutrition and functional health expert who has spent more than two decades helping thousands of people successfully reclaim their health. She is a recognized leader in the alternative health field and a pioneer in the fasting movement

 
II

Learning Objectives
 
Understand the main characteristics of the Paleolithic period 
Explain the importance of cave-art for the study of human history
Gain an awareness of the inner, outer and secondary aspect of the dancers in non-literate societies
Experience the creation of a ritual dance in the subjunctive

III

Main Lesson
 
1



 Question 1

After watching this video, mention the main characteristics of the paleolithic period. 


2


CAVE ART

 

Question 2

Why is cave-art important for the study of human history?


3


GROUP WORK


BOOK LINK: 

History of Dance (Second Edition) by Gayle Kassing 

Read from pages 20 - 23.


Question 3

What are the inner, outer and secondary aspects of the dancer in non-literate societies?

 

4


The Shaman


Question 4
 
According to Laura Kendall, what is a shaman? 


5

 (A)

(2:41 - 9:20)

Shamanic Healing with Michael Harner - The Foundation for Shamanic Studies

https://youtu.be/fbGbp-QEjCk?si=F0DnpEf_LO7KPUTU

 Question 5

Video A: What are the ethics of shamanism according to Michael Harner? What does he mean by "spiritual democracy"?

 

 (B)


 
(00:00 - 14:50 - 17:00) 

Question 6

Video B: Which are the 3 experiences mentioned by Harner? What is the purpose of going out of time?


 6

Ethical Considerations in Shamanic Healing By Susan Mokelke, J.D. 

 https://www.shamanism.org/ethical-considerations-in-shamanic-healing/

 

Question 7

According to this article, what is the main purpose of the shaman?

 

 

7 

Activity

 Davidji is a globally recognized mindbody health & wellness expert, mindful performance trainer, meditation teacher & author. He is credited with creating the 21-day meditation process, which spawned hundreds of 21-day meditation experiences & challenges around the world.


(00:00 - 3:55)

Question 8

Describe your experience when doing the above mindful meditation.


8

Paleo Indians of North America



(00:00 - 7:05)

Question 9

Who were the paleo-Indians in Colorado? 


10

 The Fashion of Rituality by Tomas Gonzalez Perez

 Question 10

In number 9, paragraph 4, what does Gonzalez Perez mean by "rituality already undergoes a process of whitening"?

 

11

The Utes

 
(min 2:13 - 5:20)

Question 11

Describe the bear dance according to Alden Naranjo. What was its purpose?


------------------------ 


IV

 

A Note to Remember

 The motions used in their dances were basic, everyday movements, which were simple enough that everyone could join in. Men at the time also used dance as a way to prepare for battle. They would perform war dances to build teamwork and work themselves up for battles. The shaman's roll was to mediate by communicating  with the spirits on behalf of the community, including the spirits of the deceased. to alleviate unrest, unsettled issues, and to deliver gifts to the spirits. So far we have seen the bison, the lion and today the deer as a part animal of a human. The shaman, as the zoomorphic human, transforms into an animal by means of casting spells, use the animal spirit to help.



V

 Case Studies

 

Book Link:

Dance Appreciation by Julie Dawn Loring

 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dance_Appreciation/LyP_DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=dancers+imitate+animal+movement&pg=PT21&printsec=frontcover

Dance as Imitation

(Page 11)

Question 12

Who were the dancers imitating and why?

 

Book link:

 Yaqui Myths and Legends

Pages 9 - 11 

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Yaqui_Myths_and_Legends/LZkwEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Yaqui&printsec=frontcover

Question 13

Why are the Yaqui people and important reference when trying to understand Paleo-Indians?

 

Videos 

1

Shamanic Deer Dance

 

 2

Deer Dance / Ballet Folklorico



Question 14

What is your overall response to these videos, specifically to the role of the shaman in the Paleolithic? Compare and contrast both dance performances.

 

VI


ACTIVITY 1

 




Question 2

What animal did you identify with during the meditation?

ACTIVITY 2

Create a shamanic dance. Choose 8 moves that represent an animal of your choice. Perform the dance with intention.  



VII
 
Students' Work
 

 
VIII

JOURNALING


Write a brief reflection about your experience in class today and post it on Discussion Board. Find two posts you would like to interact with. 
 
 
IX

Glossary

1. sonic driving

2. Type one experiences or simple experiences:

  • Compression of time
  • Journey into the past
  • Journey into the after death-future

3.  Type two experiences or simultaneous experiences:

  • Dream time & ordinary time (example: Australian Aborigines)
  • Merging (example: All shamans)

4. Type three experiences:

  • Static cosmic union (Done with sonic driving) 

5. Shamanic state of consciousness


X

Sources

Korisettar, Ravi (1998). Early Human Behaviour in Global Context. Routledge.

McBrearty, Sally; Brooks, Allison (2000). "The revolution that wasn't: a new interpretation of the origin of modern human behavior". Journal of Human Evolution. 39 (5): 453–563.

Henshilwood, Christopher; Marean, Curtis (2003). "The Origin of Modern Human Behavior: Critique of the Models and Their Test Implications". Current Anthropology. 44 (5): 627–651.

Hill, Kim; et al. (2009). "The Emergence of Human Uniqueness: Characters Underlying Behavioral Modernity". Evolutionary Anthropology. 18 (5): 187–200. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.469.5702.

Trinu Ojamaa. THE SHAMAN AS THE ZOOMORPHIC HUMAN. https://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol4/triinu.htm

 

XI

Students' Work

 
Ziyang Li

The Paleolithic period was marked by the use of stone tools, hunting and gathering, the development of fire, and eventually symbolic behavior like art, music, and dance. Cave art is important because it gives us clues about early human life, beliefs, and rituals, showing us how they expressed themselves and their connection to the world. In non-literate societies, dancers had outer aspects (like movement and costumes), inner aspects (like emotions and spiritual connection), and secondary aspects (like the setting or audience). According to Laura Kendall, a shaman is a spiritual guide who communicates with spirits to heal and help others. In the video, Michael Harner explains that shamanism values ethics such as helping others, not harming, and respecting free will. "Spiritual democracy" means everyone has access to spiritual knowledge and can experience it themselves. In the second video, Harner talks about three key experiences: going out of time, traveling to other worlds, and meeting spirit helpers—the purpose of going out of time is to connect with spiritual knowledge beyond the physical world. According to Susan Mokelke’s article, the main purpose of the shaman is to serve the community by healing, guiding, and bringing spiritual balance while always following ethical behavior.

 
Simone Lantier

  1. The first and the longest era of prehistory is the Paleolithic period which is said to have started about 300,000 years ago. Small tribes of hunters and gatherers lived as nomads for food in this early era of human development. They had early spiritual practices, conducted rituals and put their dead to rest. They learnt about fire, and how to control it for warmth and cooking. They also engaged in cave painting and made stone tools such as knives and arrowheads and later moved to tools made of bones and wood.
  2. Cave art is significant in the study of human history as the only way to peek into the lives, minds, and routines of early humans. It offers a rich understanding of the animals they met, the environment they lived in, and possibly their thoughts and ways of communication. These artworks are important because they give evidence of the developing minds of our ancestors, their capacity to generate and communicate ideas, and the beginnings of symbolic and graphic communication, thus helping to explain the beginnings of human culture and creativity.
  3. In non-literate societies the dancer’s role can be explained from the inside, from the outside and in relation to other roles. The inner aspect has to do with the personal, the spiritual, the emotional relation to the act of dancing and is related to ritual or religious experiences. The outer aspect includes the physical movements, gestures, and costumes which hold a symbolic meaning and are a reflection of the cultural beliefs. The secondary aspect has to do with the position of the dancer in the society and the culture, the part dance plays in supporting and maintaining social values, education and social cohesion. These aspects are integrated to demonstrate how dance is used and how it is experienced by individuals and groups in societies that are not literate.

  4. As stated by Laurel Kendall, a shaman is a master of spirits, who can take his spirit to the other worlds to get knowledge. They can travel to the underworld and bring back information. Shamans are usually considered as the interlocutors between people and the other world, the spiritual one.

  5. As Michael Harner points out, the ethics of shamanism are based on the concept of responsibility of the individual and the understanding that if a shamanic healer makes some mistakes or if emotions like anger interfere with his or her spiritual work, then the healer will suffer for it. Discipline and care are also necessary so that one’s spiritual powers may be used properly. He also discusses what he calls "spiritual democracy" which is the belief that people should have an entitlement to receive revelations from spiritual realms directly for themselves and not through the intermediary institutions of religions or their leaders. This last one fits in with the larger theme of people gaining spiritual empowerment and being their own guides.

  6. The three experiences that Harner introduces are shamanic journeys, divination, and healing. The aim of leaving time is to reach altered states of consciousness that enable people to obtain wisdom and healing from other kinds of realities. This enables them to move beyond the normal time and space, to grow spiritually and to comprehend.

  7. As per the article, the primary aim of the shaman is to serve as a spiritual healer, treating patients with the help of benevolent helping spirits and offering them advice and direction. The role of the shaman is to honor the ethical limits, that is, to perform the healing only when the client gives an explicit and informed consent, and only to the extent of the client’s request. The shaman must work with integrity, compassion and respect for the autonomy and spiritual needs of the other individuals.

  8. After a stressful few months with unexpected events occuring, this meditation gave me a much-needed break. Connecting with my spirit guide brought a sense of calm, strength, and clarity. It helped me release tension, find inner peace, and feel supported through a challenging time.

  9. The Paleo-Indians in Colorado were the first people in America, and they lived between 20,000 and 12,000 years ago. They were early pioneers who lived in a landscape with giant beasts like mammoths and ground sloths. Archaeologists use their knowledge of stone tools and other artifacts to gain insights into their lives.

  10. Gonzalez Perez argues that ritual traditions are being altered or influenced by other cultures, and thus are losing their original significance and character.

  11. As told by Alden Naranjo, for the bear dance women select their dance partners, women face west and men face east, the steps are small like a bear's walk. The purpose of the dance is to honor and celebrate the arrival of spring.

  12. In Pilobolus's "Shadowland," the dancers are miming animals and natural phenomena, and the human body becomes a means of producing fantastical shapes and forms. As for the concept, this mimicry is to further investigate and pay respect to the world within which they live, thereby bringing to life the movements and behaviors of the creatures and elements of the natural world, and to reiterate the idea that dance is but a form of imitation.

  13. The Yaqui people are a significant reference in the study of Paleo-Indians because they continue to practice traditional ways of living that are similar to those of the early indigenous peoples; hunting, gathering and farming. The Yaqui people’s dependency on the natural environment for food, use of traditional implements, and the organization of communities help to give a better picture of how early indigenous peoples could have lived and evolved over the years. Furthermore, their usual ways of life, meeting social obligations, and participating in ceremonies help to shed light on the continuity of indigenous traditions for as many generations as can be traced back.

  14. In the Paleolithic era, rituals and transformation were central to the shaman. Spirituality and change are emphasized by the Shamanic Deer Dance, while the Deer Dance/Ballet Folklorico is more organized and artistic. Both the dances also highlight a very strong bond between dance and nature and the spiritual realm.

 


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