I have no clue about the magic mushrooms
but I suspect it was highly unlikely in the period that I'm talking about when Britain wasn't part of the Roman Empire.

Similarly Egyptian history isn't my strong point except as how it tangentially relates to Rome and Greece, but there is little concrete evidence for widespread consumption, and a lot of assumptions tend to be made about it.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Mar 2011, 17:37, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

I saw a peculiar documentary once
where they claimed to have found cocaine traces in Egyptian mummies - suggesting either that there was trade with America 1000 years and more before even the Viking forays into that continent - or that coca grew outside of America and we don't know about it.

I would say the second one would be more likely - or a third option, the 'evidence' is wrong or contaminated, would be even more likely.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Mar 2011, 17:44, Reply)

I saw that as well, they also bunged in Tobacco for good measure *mystery*

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Mon 28 Mar 2011, 17:46, Reply)

WooooOOOooOOOOOooooOOOoo

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Mar 2011, 17:48, Reply)

I remember that
the tobacco traces were quite interesting. I do suspect it's contamination though
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Mar 2011, 17:49, Reply)

No other explanation makes any sense, I am sad to say.
There'd have been other evidence of trade than just some grains of bugle and some baccy leaves.

I point the finger at rich American students working in Egypt.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Mar 2011, 17:52, Reply)

No Lambert & Butler for Pharaoh :((

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Mon 28 Mar 2011, 17:55, Reply)

no charlie for Cleopatra

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Mar 2011, 17:56, Reply)

No tripping for Ptolemy.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Mar 2011, 18:03, Reply)

The Romans would have had contact with the Celts since year dot, see the Celts of Northern Italy, Transalpine, Cisalpine Gaul, the Iberian peninsula and so on

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Mon 28 Mar 2011, 17:48, Reply)