Emily Johnson
The consumption of psychedelic substances is a tradition as old as recorded human history, and cave paintings are a window into this ancient world. One of the most famous examples of ancient mushroom art is the Algerian cave painting from circa 4700 BC, or 9000 years ago, featuring mushrooms merging with a human-like entity. This is not an isolated example, as there are other sites of a similar age in eastern Spain that also have fungoid-looking rock art, such as the Selva Pascuala cave mural, which is the oldest discovered depiction of psilocybin mushrooms in Europe. These paintings indicate a huge turning point in the evolution of the human race, marking the emergence of creativity and imagination.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria |
| Age | 9,000 years old |
| Contents | Masked figures with mushroom-like objects in their hands, surrounded by geometric designs |
| Interpretation | May represent the ritual use of psychedelic mushrooms |
| Similar Sites | Selva Pascuala, Spain; Pegtymel, Chukotka |
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What You'll Learn
The 9,000-year-old Tassili cave painting in Algeria
The Tassili cave paintings in Algeria are a collection of prehistoric parietal works of rock art, first reported in 1910. They are located in the Tassili n'Ajjer national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Sahara desert, bordering Libya, Niger, and Mali. The site covers an area of roughly 72,000 to 80,000 sq. km and contains one of the most important groupings of prehistoric cave art in the world.
The Tassili cave paintings depict large wild animals, including antelopes, crocodiles, and cattle, as well as humans engaging in activities such as hunting and dancing. Some of the paintings are believed to be up to 12,000 years old, with the vast majority dating to the ninth and tenth millennia BP or younger, according to OSL dating of associated sediments.
Among the thousands of paintings and engravings identified, one particular interpretation of the art has drawn interest. According to ethnobotanist Terence McKenna, some of the Tassili cave paintings depict shamans with large numbers of grazing cattle. He writes, "The shamans are dancing with fists full of mushrooms and also have mushrooms sprouting out of their bodies... The pictorial evidence seems incontrovertible." These paintings are interpreted as suggesting that humans consumed psychedelic mushrooms as early as 9,000 years ago.
The interpretation of the Tassili cave paintings as evidence of early mushroom use has been supported by other experts. Giorgio Samorini wrote about a painting depicting "masked figures... holding mushroom-like objects in the right hand," with parallel lines "reaching the central part of the head of the dancer." This interpretation aligns with the idea of "the universal mental value induced by hallucinogenic mushrooms and vegetables, which is often of a mystical and spiritual nature." The U.S. Forest Service acknowledges Tassili as "the oldest known petroglyph depicting the use of psychoactive mushrooms."
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The oldest European depiction in Spain's Selva Pascuala
The Selva Pascuala rock shelter in Spain is a landscape formation in eastern Spain that was discovered by an archaeologist in 1918. It features prehistoric painted rock art, including a mural with mushrooms and a bull. The rock art is believed to be from the Mesolithic-Neolithic period, and the style and content of the art are similar to older Paleolithic cave art, but with some notable differences. For example, the species depicted in the Selva Pascuala art are still familiar and contemporary, indicating that the art is likely post-Ice Age. Additionally, the site is located in an open, rather than deep cave site, which is more typical of post-Paleolithic art.
The Selva Pascuala site is one of a few dozen similar sites with Mesolithic-Neolithic rock art in Spain's Mediterranean basin. The discovery of the site sparked interest due to its potential connection to the ritual use of psychoactive fungi in regional European prehistory. The naturalistic style of the rock art and the coordinated archaeological and mycological studies conducted at the site have led some to consider it the earliest reliable depiction of mushrooms in prehistoric art.
The rock art at Selva Pascuala has been studied by an international multidisciplinary team, including archaeologist Juan Ruiz and mycologists Gaston Guzman and Ignacio Seral. The team compared the local fungi with the fungal pictographs and identified Psilocybe hispanica as the species likely depicted in the art. Psilocybe hispanica is a species of fungus that produces small brown mushrooms with psychoactive properties. The comparison of the bent stem of the mushrooms in the art to the unusual stem of Psilocybe hispanica further supported the identification of this species.
The identification of Psilocybe hispanica in the Selva Pascuala rock art suggests that the mushrooms may have been used in ancient religious rituals. The rock art is estimated to be around 6,000 years old, making it the oldest known evidence of the ritual use of psychoactive substances in prehistoric Europe. This interpretation is supported by the remote and austere location of the site, indicating that visiting the site and creating the art was a serious and intentional endeavour.
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The 2,000-year-old 'magic mushroom whale-hunting' art in Siberia
The consumption of psychedelic substances dates back to ancient civilizations, and the proof is in their cave art. One of the most famous examples of ancient mushroom art is the 9,000-year-old cave painting in Tassili, Algeria, depicting a shaman during psychedelic mushroom use. The painting shows a human-like entity with a body covered in a fractal-like pattern, which is said to resemble the effects of taking psychedelics. This interpretation of the art was popularized by Terence McKenna in his book, "Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge".
Another example of ancient mushroom art is the 2,000-year-old magic mushroom whale-hunting art found in Siberia. These petroglyphs, dubbed the 'fly agaric people' by Russian experts, are located in a remote region that can only be accessed by helicopter. The art depicts figures with mushroom-like heads, which is speculated to represent the variety of psychedelic mushrooms found in the region. The nomadic whale hunters who created this art are believed to have had a deep connection with the natural world, using mushrooms to alter their consciousness and possibly aid in their hunting practices.
The discovery of ancient cave art provides valuable insights into the beliefs and practices of our ancestors. These paintings offer a glimpse into the ritual use of fungi and other psychedelic substances, suggesting that our ancient ancestors may have had a different relationship with these substances than we do today.
The interpretation of cave art is a complex and often controversial task, as the true meaning behind the symbols and images can be difficult to ascertain. Additionally, the dating and scientific peer review of this art can be challenging, especially when the artists and their cultures are unknown. Despite these challenges, the study of ancient cave art continues to fascinate and provide valuable insights into the evolution of human consciousness and our relationship with the natural world.
The 2,000-year-old magic mushroom whale-hunting art in Siberia is a fascinating example of ancient cave art that contributes to our understanding of the diverse cultural practices and beliefs that existed in different regions of the world. By studying and preserving this ancient art, we can continue to uncover the rich history and traditions of our ancestors, gaining a deeper appreciation for the complexity and diversity of human experiences throughout time.
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The Algerian cave painting from circa 4700 BC
The Tassili n'Ajjer cave paintings in Algeria are some of the world's most important groupings of prehistoric cave art. One of these paintings, from circa 4700 BC, depicts a human-like entity covered in a fractal-like pattern, with mushrooms seemingly sprouting from its body. This interpretation of the art is supported by ethnobotanist Terence McKenna, who wrote in his book Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge that the paintings show "the earliest known depictions of shamans with large numbers of grazing cattle. The shamans are dancing with fists full of mushrooms and also have mushrooms sprouting out of their bodies."
The paintings also show the shamans surrounded by the geometric structures of their hallucinations. Giorgio Samorini, writing about the ancient paintings, focuses on one that depicts "a series of masked figures in line and hieratically dressed or dressed as dancers surrounded by long and lively festoons of geometrical designs of different kinds." Each dancer "holds a mushroom-like object in the right hand," and lines coming out of the mushroom "could signify an indirect association or non-material fluid passing from the object held in the right hand and the mind."
The U.S. Forest Service acknowledges the Tassili n'Ajjer paintings as "the oldest known petroglyph depicting the use of psychoactive mushrooms." The paintings also provide evidence of the role of psychedelics in ancient societies. As Terence McKenna writes, "the shamanic figures are shown running joyfully, surrounded by the geometric structures of their hallucinations." This interpretation is supported by the fact that the paintings show mushrooms seemingly sprouting from the shamanic figures' bodies, suggesting that the artists were attempting to depict the effects of consuming these mushrooms.
The Tassili n'Ajjer site in Algeria is a vast plateau in the southeast of the country, covering an area of 72,000 sq. km. The site is remarkable for its rich concentration of rock art, with more than 15,000 paintings and engravings providing unique insights into the environmental, social, cultural, and economic changes in the country across a period of 10,000 or more years. The area is particularly famous for its Round Head paintings, which are thought to be up to 9,000 years old and are the largest paintings of their kind found on the African continent, measuring up to 13 feet in height.
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The oldest cave art in the world in Spain's Cave of El Castillo
The Cueva de El Castillo, or the Cave of the Castle, is an archaeological site within the complex of the Caves of Monte Castillo, located in Puente Viesgo, in the province of Cantabria, Spain. The cave was discovered in 1903 by Hermilio Alcalde del Río, a Spanish archaeologist. Alcalde del Río found an extensive sequence of images executed in charcoal and red ochre on the walls and ceilings of multiple caverns.
In 2012, uranium-thorium dating of the cave's discs gave dates of over 40,000 years. This could indicate that the tradition of cave painting began in the Proto-Aurignacian period, coinciding with the first arrival of anatomically modern humans in Europe. These findings are still being debated.
According to a 2013 study of finger length ratios in Upper Paleolithic hand stencils found in France and Spain, the majority of the handprints belonged to females. This discovery challenges the previously widespread belief that creating art was primarily a male activity.
Among the 11 subterranean sites studied along Spain's northern Cantabrian Sea coast, El Castillo had the oldest paintings. The oldest painting is a simple red disk estimated to be over 40,800 years old, making it Europe's oldest dated artwork by at least 4,000 years.
The new dates suggest that the paintings may have been created by Neanderthals, who are thought to have lived in Europe until around 42,000 years ago. If proven, this discovery would narrow the cultural distance between Neanderthals and modern humans, supporting the argument that Neanderthals were a European racial variant of Homo sapiens rather than a separate species.
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Frequently asked questions
The mushroom cave painting in Tassili, Algeria is believed to be around 9,000 years old.
Yes, the oldest discovered depiction of psilocybin mushrooms in Europe is believed to be the Selva Pascuala cave mural in Spain, painted around 6,000 years ago.
The oldest cave art is found in the Cave of El Castillo in Spain and is dated to around 40,000 years ago. The paintings mainly depict deer. The second-oldest cave paintings are found in the Chauvet Cave in France, dating to approximately 30,000 years ago, and feature a wider variety of wild animals.
The interpretation of the mushroom cave paintings in Tassili, Algeria, remains disputed. Some researchers, including ethnobotanist Terence McKenna, suggest that the paintings represent shamanic ceremonies and the ritual use of psychedelic mushrooms. However, alternative explanations propose that the images may depict sheep or other cultural elements.
Yes, 2,000-year-old petroglyphs found in Siberia depict "fly agaric people", named after the variety of psychedelic mushrooms found in the region. These figures are believed to represent nomadic whale hunters.
