What do mushroom-shaped sculptures from Guatemala suggest about Mayan religious practices?

The discovery of numerous small, mushroom-shaped sculptures in Guatemala strongly suggests the existence of a mushroom cult within the Mayan culture of Central America.1

These artifacts, often referred to as "mushroom stones," have been found in archaeological contexts such as the rich log tombs at Kaminaljuyú, a significant site in the Valley of Guatemala. Their presence in these burial sites, alongside other high-status grave goods like jade masks and fine pottery, indicates that these objects held ritualistic importance. Researchers believe these sculptures were likely used in religious rites involving the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms, which were historically significant in various Mesoamerican spiritual practices.21