In Peru, thousands of years ago, a child was murdered and their head cut at the neck to make a trophy. An analysis of one hair taken from the skull of the mummy has revealed that the child had consumed a psychoactive substance before execution.
The preserved head of the child was one of 22 human remains that were examined as part of a new study on the ancient Nazca society. All of them lived in the pre-Hispanic period (3500 BCE to CE 476). They were buried close to the coast of Peru during the Nazca Project which began in 1982.
Scientists aren’t sure of the victim’s gender or age, but they did report that the child had eaten San Pedro cactus.Echinopsis pachanoi), a prickly plant taken for its “strong hallucinogenic properties” and used by indigenous civilizations of the Americas in traditional medicines and during rituals.
The study’s lead author said that the trophy head was the first case in which San Pedro was consumed by someone living on the southern Peruvian Coast. Dagmara SochaLive Science spoke with a doctoral candidate at the Center for Andean Studies of the University of Warsaw in Poland.
“It’s also the evidence that some of those who were made into trophy head were given stimulants before their deaths,”
Socha and her colleagues collected hair samples from four trophy heads. Three of them belonged to adults. The other three belonged to 18-year-olds. mummiesfor both children and adults. Many of the dead had taken some form of stimulant or psychoactive plant before their death, according to toxicological tests.
Coca leaves, which are thought to contain the psychoactive substance cocaine, were among those ingested. San Pedro Cactus, which contains mescaline (a psychedelic medication), was also included in the list.
They also discovered traces Banisteriopsis caapi The main component in Ayahuasca is harmine, which is a hallucinogenic drink that contains harmine.
Related: Peru Excavation: Found 76 child-sacrifice victims with their hearts ripped from
“It was fascinating to see how many people had the opportunity to access this information.” [these plants],” Socha said.
“We also wanted the route of trade for some of these ancient plants. One example is that the coca leaves could not be grown along Peru’s southern coast. They had to be brought from northern Peru or the Amazonian region.
Researchers found that drug use dates back to 100 BCE and CE 450.
Socha stated, “We can clearly see that the transition of plants began early and we can trace the trade networks.”
“Our research shows these plants are very important to different cultures for visionary and medical purposes. Because there is no evidence of a connection between vision and medicine, this is a significant advantage. [written record]So what we know about Nazca or other nearby cultures comes from this period. Archaeological investigations.”
Sixteen years before this study, Rainer BussmannA study was published by a researcher at the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Germany. Journal of Ethnobiology and EthnomedicineAn examination of medicinal plant usage in indigenous communities of northern Peru.
As Socha, he also studied trade routes for various cultivated plants in the region.
“There was always some trade going on in the region with plants being traded up and down from the Amazon. [Peruvian]coast,” Bussmann said, adding that he was not part of the new study.
“These plants were historically used for ritual or medicinal purposes. [were]Sometimes, they are combined. I haven’t seen reports of recreational usage. There was always a purpose in these cultures.
Socha explained that although evidence supports the use of these plants as ceremonies and medicines, scientists are still unsure how widespread their consumption was in Nazca culture.
“We really don’t know how many of these happen.” [plants]She said that they were being used.” “In the case San Pedro, it is not well preserved in an archaeological context. In the case with the coca leaves, it is. Banisteriopsis caapiThey were not found to have been growing in the area during this time.
In addition to the human remains, Socha and her team also found a variety of grave goods at the burial sites, including textiles, ceramic pots, weaving tools, and a chuspa – a type of bag used for carrying coca leaves.
The December 2022 issue will feature the findings. Journal of Archeological Science.
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