The history of magic mushrooms stretches from possible prehistoric rock art to modern clinical trials in London, Basel and Baltimore. Along the way, it passes through Aztec ceremonies, a curious case in 18th-century London, the Swiss laboratory behind the discovery of psilocybin, and the counterculture of the 1960s. This article traces that story, with a special focus on Europe's role, and separates well-documented facts from popular legends.
The Early History of Magic Mushrooms: Rock Art Clues
Some researchers believe that people used psychoactive mushrooms thousands of years ago. In Spain, the Selva Pascuala rock painting near Villar del Humo, thought to be around 6,000 years old, shows a row of small, mushroom-like shapes. In 2011, researchers suggested that these figures may depict liberty caps, a psilocybin mushroom that still grows in the region [1]. Similarly, other scholars point to rock art in North Africa.
However, these interpretations are debated. Rock art is open to many readings, and there is no direct evidence that prehistoric Europeans ate magic mushrooms. In short, this part of the history of magic mushrooms remains an intriguing possibility rather than a proven fact.
Mesoamerica: The Best-Documented Tradition
The strongest evidence in the history of magic mushrooms comes from Mexico and Central America. For example, archaeologists have found carved "mushroom stones" in Guatemala and neighboring regions that date back thousands of years. Later, the Aztecs used mushrooms they called teonanácatl in religious rituals [2]. Mushrooms and cacao were sometimes served at the same feasts, as our article on mushroom chocolate explains.
After the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, missionaries such as the Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagún described these practices. At the time, church authorities saw them as pagan and tried to suppress them. Nevertheless, the tradition survived in remote communities, especially among the Mazatec people of Oaxaca. Our article on psilocybin and spirituality explores this ceremonial history further.
An Early European Report: London, 1799
One of the earliest detailed descriptions of magic mushroom effects in Europe comes from London. In 1799, a family picked small mushrooms in Green Park and cooked them for breakfast. Soon afterward, they experienced dilated pupils, uncontrollable laughter and strange perceptions. A doctor named Everard Brande described the case in a medical journal. Today, most experts believe the family had eaten liberty caps. Our liberty cap mushroom guide tells more of this species' story.
The 1950s: Magic Mushrooms Reach the West
The modern history of magic mushrooms began in the 1950s. In 1955, the American banker and amateur mycologist R. Gordon Wasson attended a night-time mushroom ceremony led by the Mazatec healer María Sabina. In 1957, he described the experience in Life magazine, which introduced magic mushrooms to millions of readers. Sadly, the attention later brought crowds of visitors to her village and caused lasting harm to the community.
Who Discovered Psilocybin?
Europe then played a central scientific role. The French mycologist Roger Heim, director of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, identified several of the Mexican species and grew them in his laboratory. He sent samples to the Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann at Sandoz in Basel. In 1958, Hofmann isolated and named the active compounds, psilocybin and psilocin [3]. Afterward, Sandoz supplied psilocybin to researchers under the name Indocybin.
The 1960s: Research and Counterculture
During the early 1960s, psychiatrists in Europe and North America studied psilocybin for a range of conditions. At Harvard, Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert launched the Harvard Psilocybin Project in 1960. Their work, and the 1962 Good Friday Experiment led by Walter Pahnke, attracted huge attention. However, Leary's methods became increasingly controversial, and psychedelics soon became symbols of the counterculture. Read our comparison of psilocybin vs LSD for more on this era.
Prohibition: 1960s to 2000s
As recreational use grew, governments responded with strict laws. In 1971, the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances placed psilocybin and psilocin in Schedule I. This was a major turning point in the history of magic mushrooms, and most research stopped for decades. In Europe, the legal status of the mushrooms themselves stayed unclear in some countries for many years. For example, fresh mushrooms were openly sold in the United Kingdom until 2005 and in the Netherlands until 2008. Our guide to psilocybin legality in Europe and around the world explains today's rules.
The Modern History of Magic Mushrooms in Medicine
From the late 1990s, researchers in Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom slowly restarted psilocybin studies. In 2006, a Johns Hopkins study showed that psilocybin could reliably produce meaningful mystical-type experiences [4]. Since then, universities such as Imperial College London have led research on depression, while others have studied anxiety and addiction [5]. Today, psilocybin is one of the most studied psychedelics in medicine. To explore this research, read our guides to psilocybin therapy and psilocybin for depression.
Myths in the History of Magic Mushrooms
Popular stories about magic mushrooms often go beyond the evidence. For example, claims that Viking "berserkers" used mushrooms or that magic mushrooms inspired the earliest religions are speculative, and most historians treat them with caution. In addition, the theory that psychedelic mushrooms drove human evolution, sometimes called the "stoned ape" theory, is not supported by scientific evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who first isolated psilocybin?
The Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann isolated and named psilocybin in 1958, using mushrooms identified by the French mycologist Roger Heim.
Did ancient Europeans use magic mushrooms?
Possibly, but evidence is limited. Rock art in Spain may show liberty caps, yet this interpretation is debated.
When were magic mushrooms banned?
Psilocybin was placed under international control in 1971. However, many countries only explicitly banned the mushrooms themselves much later.
Conclusion: A Long and Unfinished History of Magic Mushrooms
The history of magic mushrooms links ancient ceremonies, European science and modern medicine. Mesoamerican traditions preserved their use for centuries, while European researchers in Paris and Basel turned them into a subject of science. After decades of prohibition, research is now growing again in Europe and around the world. As new studies appear, this long history is still being written.
Sources
- Akers BP, et al. A prehistoric mural in Spain depicting neurotropic Psilocybe mushrooms? Economic Botany. 2011. doi:10.1007/s12231-011-9152-5
- Guzmán G. Hallucinogenic mushrooms in Mexico: an overview. Economic Botany. 2008. doi:10.1007/s12231-008-9033-8
- Hofmann A, et al. Psilocybin, ein psychotroper Wirkstoff aus dem mexikanischen Rauschpilz Psilocybe mexicana Heim. Experientia. 1958. doi:10.1007/BF02159243
- Griffiths RR, et al. Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance. Psychopharmacology. 2006. doi:10.1007/s00213-006-0457-5
- Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM. The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: past, present, and future. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.84
