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A Prehistoric Mural in Spain Depicting Neurotropic Psilocybe Mushrooms?1

Economic Botany volume 65, pages 121–128 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

A Prehistoric Mural in Spain Depicting NeurotropicPsilocybeMushrooms? The Selva Pascuala mural, a work of post-Paleolithic rock art in Spain, contains fungoid figures herein hypothesized to depict neurotropic fungi, especially Psilocybe hispanica, a species that occurs in a neighboring region. This hypothesis is based on features of these figures related to fungal morphology, along with ethnographic analogy, and shamanistic explanations of rock art. If correct, this interpretation would support inference of prehistoric utilization of this fungus in the region. The mural represents the first direct evidence for possible ritual use of Psilocybe in prehistoric Europe.

¿Se Representan Setas NeurotrópicasPsilocybe en un Mural Prehistórico de España?. El panel de Selva Pascuala (Villar del Humo, Cuenca, España) conserva pinturas rupestres de cronología postpaleolítica entre las que se incluyen figuras con apariencia de seta, para las que aquí planteamos la hipótesis de que representan setas de efectos neurotrópicos, en concreto Psilocybe hispanica, una especie que crece en regiones próximas. Esta hipótesis se basa en las características de estas figuras en comparación con la morfología de dichas setas, a lo que se añade la analogía etnográfica y la teoría del chamanismo aplicada al arte rupestre. Si estamos en lo cierto, esta interpretación apoyaría la posible utilización regional de estas setas durante la Prehistoria. El panel supone la primera evidencia directa del posible uso ritual de Psilocybe en la Prehistoria europea.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Gastón Guzmán for his identification of the mural fungi, plus members of his team—especially Florencia Ramirez-Guillen and Manuel Hernandez. We thank the authorities at the Institute of Ecology (Veracruz, Mexico) for their support. We also thank Juan Francisco Jordán Montes and José Alfredo González Celdrán for their involvement and onsite assistance to Carl Ruck and Alan Piper; and John Moeller for help obtaining literature sources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New Port Richey, FL, USA

    Brian P. Akers

  2. Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación y Humanidades, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain

    Juan Francisco Ruiz

  3. London, England, UK

    Alan Piper

  4. Classical Studies Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Carl A. P. Ruck

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  1. Brian P. Akers
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  2. Juan Francisco Ruiz
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  4. Carl A. P. Ruck
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Correspondence to Brian P. Akers.

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Akers, B.P., Ruiz, J.F., Piper, A. et al. A Prehistoric Mural in Spain Depicting Neurotropic Psilocybe Mushrooms?1 . Econ Bot 65, 121–128 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-011-9152-5

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Keywords

  • Psilocybe
  • neurotropic fungi
  • post-paleolithic
  • rock art
  • levantine art
  • schematic art