Ritual amulet in the form of "'zemi", ca. 7th - 15th century ·  Greater Antilles, Taino · ID: 3052563

Description

greyish stone, base

Shamans played an important role in Taíno society as medical practitioners, using an hallucinogenic preparation named “cohoba” to get in trance and to contact the spirits for help to determine the cause of the illnesses.

The Shaman recited sacred chants accompanied of maracas to play a rhythm. He produced a stone amulet and which he pretended to suck from the patient’s body, and claiming afterwards that it had been the source of the illness and should thereafter be saved as a magical charm of protection.

Notices

This object is subject to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Export documents are required for export (subjected to a fee).