Alter ego representations in San Agustin monolithic sculptures: possible plant hallucinogenic influences.
Journal of psychoactive drugs December 1, 2009 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2009.10399768 via PubMed
Summary
The evidence suggests that the San Agustin culture, which existed in Colombia from the third century B.C. to the sixteenth century A.D., used various plant hallucinogens, including Brugmansia and Anadenanthera peregrina. The study analyzes themes from their monolithic sculptures, focusing on man-animal transformations and shamanic elements related to the use of these hallucinogenic plants.
Study at a glance
| Population | San Agustin culture, an extinct people from the Magdalena River area of Colombia |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The San Agustin culture likely utilized multiple plant hallucinogens as part of their spiritual practices, as evidenced by their artistic themes. |
Abstract
This article examines the evidence for plant hallucinogenic use (possibly Brugmansia, Brunfelsia chiricaspi, Desfontainia R., Anadenanthera peregrina, Banisteriopsis sps, Psychotropia viridis and Virola theidora) by the San Agustin culture, an extinct peoples who resided in the Magdelena River area of Colombia from the third century B.C. until the sixteenth century A.D. Based on thematic materials gathered from a cross-cultural survey of plant hallucinogens, the author examines themes in the monolithic sculptures of this culture in light of man-animal transformations and shamanic themes linked to plant hallucinogenic ingestion.