CREIGHTON, JOHN

In his volumeCoins and Power in Late IronAge Britain(2000), Creighton draws onneuropsychologicalanalyses ofrock artto argue that the geometric and distorted anthropomorphic imagery on Iron Age (Celtic) coinage may be derived fromaltered state of consciousnessexperiences, possibly influenced byentheogenicplants such as the opium poppy, cannabis, or henbane, for which there is some archaeological evidence inNorthern Europe. He goes on to suggest that altered consciousness and coin production were agentic in the negotiation and contestation of power, amongDruids, for instance, with the coin—its color, precious metal composition, indication of status, mythological imagery, and so on— beguiling those who came into contact with it. Imagery on coins,visionaryor otherwise, might be deemed too limited in content, and the coins themselves too diminutive, for such an analysis to be reliable. Creighton’s interpretation of the basketry compass work of the Latchmere Heath mirror in a similar light—mirrors offering passages toother worlds—is perhaps more convincing. There is scope for this data to be considered alongside other sources in order to grasp the likelihood of “Celtic shamanisms.” Creighton is positive about the likelihood of finding residues of entheogens in British prehistoric contexts and the insights this might provide into prehistoric religions.