Stone pestle with anthropomorphic decoration

Stones pestles carved with human or avian images were used for ceremonial purposes, specifically to grind Cohoba powder. In Taino culture the Cohoba ritual was the most important. The idea was to get in contact with the spirits to obtain from them information about the future and to cure illnesses. The seeds from the tree called Anadenanthera peregrine were grind to become a powder. The Taino mixed this powder, fortified by other drugs, for inhalation to help the shaman to get kaleidoscopic visions.