Entering Trance, Entering Relationship: Liminality at the Finnish rock art sites

Abstract

<p>This article presents four new possible images of drums in the Finnish rock art, and<br>considers these, and apparent dancing images as an acoustic record of the past. It also presents<br>preliminary results of testing echo at over 100 rock-art sites that suggest that exceptional soundscape<br>is an elemental, if not a fundamental component, of rock art. Both the images and the<br>echo correlate well with the local Sámi ceremonies of singing and drumming at sacred sieidi<br>sites—regional tradition and Finnish rock art point to entering into deeper trance through music<br>and dancing. However, in Finland, there are few entoptic signs in rock art. In some places these<br>signs are connected to shamanism but research shows a correlation with entoptic signs and psychedelic<br>substances but not necessarily with shamanism. This disconnect emphasizes the need<br>for redefining ASC: the term is not singular, but plural. Contrary to being hallucinations, shamanic<br>states can be better understood as being exceptionally present and part of an Indigenous<br>knowledge formation process. A pattern of liminal features, images, and local analogies construe<br>Finnish rock-art sites effectively as sites of liminality, trance, and relationship.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>