American Indian Life Early Woodland Period - Susan A. WaltonOhio Historical Society
Artifacts left by the Hopewell Mound builders depicting the transformation of humans into animals and the reverse indicate a form of shamanic religion where the wearer or holder of the object becomes imbued with the qualities of the animal depicted. Animal images of birds, wolves, bears and deer were common. Carved tubular pipes indicate offerings of smoke to the spirits and probable use of hallucinogenic substances used to alter consciousness.
Hopewell Pipe Bird Effigy - Carved Catlinite 
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