A STUDY OF RELIGION, CULTURE, AND MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THREE SOUTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GROUPS by Danny Childs A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree in Biology and Anthropology with Distinction Spring 2012 © 2012 Childs All Rights Reserved A STUDY OF RELIGION, CULTURE, AND MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THREE SOUTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GROUPS by Danny Childs Approved: __________________________________________________________ Peter G. Roe, Ph.D. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: __________________________________________________________ Harsh Bais, Ph.D. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: __________________________________________________________ Melissa Melby, Ph.D. Committee member from the Department of Anthopology Approved: __________________________________________________________ Diane Herson, Ph.D. Committee member from the Department of Biological Sciences Approved: __________________________________________________________ Rosalie Rolón-Dow, Ph.D. Committee member from the Board of Senior Thesis Readers Approved: ___________________________________________________________ Donald Sparks, Ph.D Chair of the University Committee on Student and Faculty Honors TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ vi LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. ix PREFACE ....................................................................................................................... x 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 Natural History of the Three Biomes ................................................................. 2 Peopling of the Continent ................................................................................... 6 More Complex Social Organization Arises Prior to Spanish Arrival .............. 11 South America After the Arrival of the Spanish .............................................. 20 A Brief Note on Culture Change ...................................................................... 22 2 ANIMISM—THE DOCTRINE OF THE SOULS ........................................... 26 Tribal Religion .................................................................................................. 26 Animism ........................................................................................................... 28 Origins of Animism—Inquiries About Human Existence ............................... 30 Animal and Plant Souls .................................................................................... 32 Inanimate Souls ................................................................................................ 34 Governing Spirits .............................................................................................. 36 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 39 3 SHAMANISM—THE ART OF ECSTASY .................................................... 41 Introduction to Shamanism ............................................................................... 41 The Call to Shamanhood .................................................................................. 43 Initiatory Sickness ............................................................................................ 45 Shamanic Flight ................................................................................................ 47 Apprenticeship of the Neophyte ....................................................................... 59 Shamanic Curing .............................................................................................. 63 4 ETHNOBIOLOGY ........................................................................................... 76 Introduction to Ethnobiology ........................................................................... 76 Ethnomedicine, Ethnobotany, and Ethnopharmacology .................................. 77 iii Benefits and Issues with Ethnobotanical, Ethnomedical, and Ethnopharmacological Research ...................................................................... 80 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 84 5 THE SHIPIBO INDIANS ................................................................................ 86 6 INHABITANTS OF THE UCAYALI OF EASTERN PERU ......................... 86 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 86 Ethnohistorical Sketch ...................................................................................... 90 Population ......................................................................................................... 96 Life Cycle ......................................................................................................... 98 The Domestic Unit, the Village, and Socio-Political Organization ............... 102 Subsistence and Technology .......................................................................... 105 Religion .......................................................................................................... 110 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 112 7 THE ATACAMEÑO INDIANS .................................................................... 114 8 INHABITANTS OF THE CHILEAN ATACAMA DESERT ...................... 114 Introduction .................................................................................................... 114 Ethnohistorical Sketch .................................................................................... 117 Population ....................................................................................................... 125 The Domestic Unit and the Village ................................................................ 126 Subsistence, Technology, and Trade .............................................................. 127 Art ................................................................................................................... 130 Socio-Political Organization and Religion ..................................................... 131 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 132 Introduction .................................................................................................... 134 Ethnohistorical Sketch .................................................................................... 137 Population ....................................................................................................... 141 Life Cycle ....................................................................................................... 143 The Domestic Unit, the Village, and Socio-Political Organization ............... 146 Subsistence and Technology .......................................................................... 152 Religion .......................................................................................................... 156 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 159 9 ETHNOBOTANICAL FIELDWORK ........................................................... 160 Introduction .................................................................................................... 160 Lima ................................................................................................................ 162 San Francisco de Yarinacocha—Round One ................................................. 163 Callería ........................................................................................................... 166 iv San Francisco de Yarinacocha—Round Two ................................................. 173 San Pedro de Atacama and Chiu Chiu ........................................................... 176 Caspana and Toconao ..................................................................................... 179 Santiago .......................................................................................................... 182 Temuco ........................................................................................................... 183 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 185 10 MEDICINAL PLANT INVENTORY ........................................................... 187 11 CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 227 Issues and Variables with the Data ................................................................. 227 Results ............................................................................................................ 231 Discussion ....................................................................................................... 234 12 REFERENCES CITED .................................................................................. 240 v LIST