One of many things that fascinates us about fungi is their incredible history and how we keep finding new discoveries. Both on their own and the relationship they have with our human culture.
Fungi have been around for millions and possibly billion(s) of years. Long before crazy genetics like Enigma, Hillbilly Pumpkin, and mushroom cultivation altogether.
For example the earliest clear archaeological evidence of humans eating mushrooms dates over 18,000 years ago (16,000 BC to 17,000 BC), in the Upper Paleolithic Era aka late in to the Old Stone Age; during the hunter and gatherers timeline. Scientists found microscopic evidence of mushrooms (Bolete Mushroom) in the dental calculus (built up plaque in mouth) of who they now call Red Lady of El Mirón whose remains were discovered in a cave in Cantabria, Spain just in 2010.
While the first evidence of psychoactive mushroom use can also be dated back to 9000 years ago (7000 BC) from cave art in North Africa. This is not concrete scientific evidence but look at the image below and leave your thoughts on what you think they might of been portraying.
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