Plants of the Gods: Hallucinogens, Healing, Culture and Conservation podcast Plants of the Gods: S7E1. Lost Cities, Shamans, Hallucinogens and… King Kong!
Jun 4, 2025
Dive into the allure of lost cities and ancient civilizations! Hear about groundbreaking LiDAR technology revealing hidden ruins in Honduras. Discover the mystical aspects of shamanism and how they connect to hallucinogens through fascinating experiences. Mark Plotkin shares a personal ayahuasca journey that leads to insights about shape-shifting and ancient art. Plus, explore the intriguing misinterpretations surrounding the legendary 'monkey god' and the cultural influences that may have shaped this myth.
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Finding The Ruins With LiDAR
- Mark Plotkin joined a 2015 expedition to Honduras after seeing LiDAR images that revealed human-made structures beneath the canopy.
- The team quickly found ruins near their camp, validating the LiDAR data and sparking a major discovery.
Pristine Jungle And Pompeii-Like Ruins
- The rainforest around the site was unusually pristine, full of animals that showed no fear of humans.
- Artifacts littered the ground as if inhabitants had suddenly left, resembling an abandoned Pompeii-like scene.
Were-Jaguar Reinterprets 'Monkey God'
- A carved head mistaken for a monkey actually had ears on top of its head, a jaguar trait indicating a were-jaguar figure.
- This reinterpretation turned the "Monkey God" story into one of jaguar-shaman symbolism.
