Under experiments conducted by neurologist Henrich Kluver, subjects under the influence of mescaline reported seeing strange geometric shapes and patterns similar to those found in the cave paintings.
Cave of El Castillo in Puente Viesgo, Cantabria, Spain, dated to more than 40,000 years old
Geometric patterns in Native American cave art
Shamans are also reported to see threads of light as a door to enter the "spirit realm" and these "doors" are possibly depicted in San rock art found in Southern Africa. In these paintings, there are long red lines at cracks and steps appeared to be "doors", whereas, the painting around it could be some sort of "veils"
San rock painting of an eland found in Drakensberg, South Africa.
Graham Hancock claimed in his book Supernatural that another type of image that is usually seen in an altered state of consciousness is any hybrid of human and animal. An example of this is "The Sorcerer" painting found in "the Sanctuary" cave in France dating back to about 13.000 years ago depicting a hybrid of man and dear.
“The Sorcerer” with the re-drawn version by Henri Breuil
Also, the human-like figure in the San Bushman cave art could possibly indicate a shaman in a trance state.
Shamans lying in a trance in San Bushman cave art
Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the artists of cave art are Shamans from the evidence provided.
Source:
https://www.ancient.eu/article/787/the-meaning-of-european-upper-paleolithic-rock-art/
https://www.samwoolfe.com/2013/04/are-cave-paintings-sign-of-shamanism.html
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