The cave paintings are impressive, however the importance comes from the process of making them. Creating paintings and engravings in an unlit or poorly lit cave must have been immensely challenging. There is reason and drive behind these paintings. Either someone or many people spent a great deal amount of time creating these works of art. Why exactly did primitive man spend so much time on them? The article speculated it could have been part of a ritual to become a shaman. It is a decent theory, but there is little or no evidence of the motivations of ancient man. It fits well with modern knowledge of shamanism.
Part of me is inclined to think that the paintings had nothing to do with religious beliefs or complex rituals, but were simply a means of passing time in an age where there was little entertainment. People will go through great lengths to not be bored.
