I thought this may be of interest to some Nexians, looks at evidence for mushroom use in Peru prior to the arrival of the Spanish.
Trutmann, P. (2012) The Forgotten Mushrooms of Ancient Peru. Global Mountain Action, Fungi and Mountains Publication Series, (1), 33.
Abstract
Evidence is presented to demonstrate extensive use of mushrooms in pre Hispanic Peru. Mushroom images were found on ceramics, metal objects and textiles from a range of important cultures from the north and south, as well as coastal and highland Peru. he objects range in age approximately between 1200-200 BCE to the time of European conquest. Most abundant, vivid images of mushrooms were found from art of the Moche/Mochica culture, although other in cultures mushroom representations were also clear. Mushrooms, (realistic or abstract) were associated with what appear to be personalities of high authority, to shamans/curanderos and sacrificial victims. Realistic images of mushrooms commonly found associated with shaman like figures were often of high quality and allowed identification of some mushrooms to at least genus level. Identified were Calvatia species, Mochella species, Amanita muscaria and Psilocybe species. Some mushrooms could not be identified, because current knowledge of mushrooms of Peru and its neighbours is limited. The identified mushrooms have various characteristics: Morchella and Calvatia species have both culinary and medicinal properties. Others, like Amanita muscaria, and Psilocybe species have spiritual as well as medicinal properties rather than culinary uses. Since A. muscaria has not been confirmed growing in Peru and its traditional hosts are northern hemisphere trees one hypothesis is that the mushroom were a trade item with countries lying further north or Meso America where A. muscaria has been shown to have been deeply engrained into the religious cultures. The implications and importance of the findings are discussed for understanding of Peruvian cultures and the ancient mind and history. Various suggestions are made to advance archaeological research by integrating better mycological expertise to improve understanding of these remarkable ancient peoples.