Pásztor Emília (szerk.): A fény régészete. A természetes fény szerepe az őskori ember életében - Bajai dolgozatok 20. (Baja, 2017)

Andrzej Rozwadowski: Utazás a Naphoz. Égi szimbólumok a sámánizmusban és a szibériai, valamint a közép-ázsiai sziklarajzokon

is a common term for such imagery, see Lewis- Wiiiiams and Dowson 1988). Couid such images in rock art then be visionary images hallucinated in trance states? Neuropsychological studies inform that such trance induced patterns are usually transformed into images somehow important for the person - the individual tries to make sense of entoptics elaborating them into iconic forms, i.e. transforming them into culturally known shapes (Horowitz 1975). Such 'transformations' could simply be physiologically determined (there are reports on men who interpreted circular entoptics as women breasts) but the religious context could be equally important. If, let us assume, the sun was an important religious symbol, trance induced geometric circular patterns could indeed be interpreted by prehistoric peoples as images of the sun.

There is yet another place in Central Asia where solar-headed petroglyphs can be found. The site is known as Saimaly-Tash, which means "Patterned- Stone", and is situated in Kyrgyzstan. The place is truly exceptional - it is located high in the Fergana Mountains (part of the Tien Shan) at an altitude of 3200 meters above sea level (fig. 15). It is really hard to get to, though it is possible to get there by horse. It takes about five hours from the nearest seasonal nomadic camp. Certainly it had to be no less dangerous and exhausting journey in