Less than fifty thousand years ago mankind had no art, no religion, no
sophisticated symbolism, no innovative thinking. Then, in a dramatic and
electrifying change, described by scientists as "the greatest riddle in
human history," all the skills and qualities that we value most highly
in ourselves appeared already fully formed, as though bestowed on us by
hidden powers.
In Supernatural Graham Hancock sets out to investigate this mysterious
"before-and-after moment" and to discover the truth about the influences
that gave birth to the modern human mind. His quest takes him on a
detective journey from the stunningly beautiful painted caves of
prehistoric France, Spain, and Italy to rock shelters in the mountains
of South Africa, where he finds extraordinary Stone Age art. He uncovers
clues that lead him to the depths of the Amazon rainforest to drink the
powerful hallucinogen Ayahuasca with shamans, whose paintings contain
images of "supernatural beings" identical to the animal-human hybrids
depicted in prehistoric caves. Hallucinogens such as mescaline also
produce visionary encounters with exactly the same beings. Scientists at
the cutting edge of consciousness research have begun to consider the
possibility that such hallucinations may be real perceptions of other
"dimensions." Could the "supernaturals" first depicted in the painted
caves be the ancient teachers of mankind? Could it be that human
evolution is not just the "meaningless" process that Darwin identified,
but something more purposive and intelligent that we have barely begun
to understand?
