Leiden University Student Repository

Meulenberg, Irene (2009)

Tools for Lifting Boundaries. A Comparison between Contemporary and Archaeological Shamanistic Paraphernalia in South America and the Caribbean Area

Bachelor thesis | Archeologie (BA)

Shamanism was first described at the end of the seventeenth century. Since then everywhere in the world this phenomenon is mentioned. When we look at the contemporary societies of the South American mainland shamanism is part of their daily life as their world is animated. The function of the shaman is to be a mediator between the society and the spirits, reaching a trance state by using hallucinogenic substances. Not only in South American Tropical Forest societies is this the case, but also in the Siberian Arctic region. Shamanism is not a restricted phenomenon, but a widespread one. Without his tools the shaman can not contact the spirits. Tropical forest shamans use for example maracas, benches, snuffing tubes, snuffing trays and idols. They have their counterparts in the archaeological record where since the migration of the Saladoid and Huecoid peoples into the Caribbean islands shamanistic paraphernalia are found like, three-pointers, rattles, nostril bowls, snuffing tubes,...Show moreShamanism was first described at the end of the seventeenth century. Since then everywhere in the world this phenomenon is mentioned. When we look at the contemporary societies of the South American mainland shamanism is part of their daily life as their world is animated. The function of the shaman is to be a mediator between the society and the spirits, reaching a trance state by using hallucinogenic substances. Not only in South American Tropical Forest societies is this the case, but also in the Siberian Arctic region. Shamanism is not a restricted phenomenon, but a widespread one. Without his tools the shaman can not contact the spirits. Tropical forest shamans use for example maracas, benches, snuffing tubes, snuffing trays and idols. They have their counterparts in the archaeological record where since the migration of the Saladoid and Huecoid peoples into the Caribbean islands shamanistic paraphernalia are found like, three-pointers, rattles, nostril bowls, snuffing tubes, snuff plateaus, and incense burners. These categories were also available among the Taíno as shamanism was also part of their society. Rattles, benches, snuffing tubes, special cohoba vessels, ceremonial pestles, vomiting spatulas, and cohoba stands were used. The egalitarian Saladoid society changed into a stratified society of the Taíno. Shamanism was not restricted anymore to the shaman or behique, but also the cacique used shamanistic paraphernalia and cohoba.Show less

Author

Meulenberg, Irene

Faculty

Faculty of Archaeology

Supervisors

Boomert, A.

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en