the strive to expand ones limited capabilities seems to be an old attribute of humanity.
interesting.

You can recognise altered states of consciousness in ancient cave paintings. Apparently we all experience similar sensations, although we interpret it differently depending on our cultures. But synaesthesia (swapped senses: 'seeing' music, 'hearing' colour) and anthropomorphism are pretty common.

Good clip
For further reading on early 'psychedelic' experiences and cave paintings: http://www.grahamhancock.com/supernatural/

Also, further evidence of cocaine and aphrodisiac use can be found in the fascinating BBC video found at John Waterman's clip "The Lost Pyramids Of Caral"

This reinforces the reason of the failure of "the drug war". Drugs which alter perception are an inescapabe part of the human experience. While altered reality is not suitable for all, just as all are not world class athletes, for some it is an enlightening otherwise unavalable.

Probably found it by mistake when picking raw meat out of their teeth with a twig. Or licked a leaf or a frog... It was all downhill from there...