Alter ego representations in San Agustin monolithic sculptures: possible plant hallucinogenic influences.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 1, 2009 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2009.10399768 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | San Agustin culture sculptures and artifacts |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that the San Agustin culture's monolithic sculptures depict man-animal transformations and shamanic themes linked to the use of plant hallucinogens. |
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.