This dissertation examines the clay drums found in the Neolithic contexts of the southern Trichterrandbecher culture (TRB). Chapter 1 introduces the subject and provides basic definitions Chapter 2 reviews the archaeological literature of the southern TRB, including typological, stratigraphic and dating concerns, followed by a survey of the settlement, economic and burial evidence. Chapter 3 reviews the classifications of the drums and proposes a revised version, based on the vessel form, the decoration and the archaeological context. In Chapter 4 we review the comparative analysis of the decoration and vessel form with a view to understanding their origins. Chapter 5 summarises the anthropological and archaeological literature on the subject of shamanism, and shamanistic practices, reviewing the concept of altered states of consciousness and providing definitions of the terms "trance", "ecstasy", "shamanism" and "possession". Then we discuss the neurological evidence of shamanism and brain structure, and explain the technical terminology. The chapter then proceeds to examine the methods of inducing changes in consciousness, specifically the use of auditory driving and imagery cultivation, finishing with a look at the evidence of European shamanisms. Chapter 6 examines the validity of applying a shamanistic approach using the comparison with entoptic imagery. Chapter 7 summarises the investigation, and after sifting the evidence draws conclusions on the interpretation of the Neolithic drums, the plausibility of shamanistic approaches and the nature of music in human culture.