Hallucinogenic flower inspired Native Californian rock art, archaeologists say
“Doses” of datura plant used in communal ceremonies have been found embedded in the ceiling of Pinwheel Cave.
Rock art at Pinwheel Cave, California, represents a hallucinogenic flower, once taken by Native Californians during communal ceremonies, write researchers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
At some point after 1532, Native Californians painted a red swirling pattern inside Pinwheel Cave, north of Santa Barbara.
The Art Newspaper
November 24, 2020
© Datura wrightii
It was retouched over the years, highlighting its importance to the community, but its meaning was eventually forgotten. Now, an international team of researchers argue that the pattern represents the flower of Datura wrightii, a poisonous plant with hallucinogenic properties that grows near the cave, known to have been taken by Native Californians to enter a trance state.
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