Use of psychoactive and stimulant plants on the south coast of Peru from the Early Intermediate to Late Intermediate Period

Dagmara M. Socha; Marzena Sykutera; Giuseppe Orefici

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2022.105688

Use of psychoactive and stimulant plants on the south coast of Peru from the Early Intermediate to Late Intermediate Period

Dagmara M. Socha, Marzena Sykutera, Giuseppe Orefici

Journal of Archaeological Science October 13, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2022.105688 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract

Characteristics	Observational study Peer reviewed
Sample size	22
Population	Naturally mummified individuals from the Nazca drainage and Yauca Valley on the southern Peruvian coast
Topics	Ayahuasca Mescaline
Keywords	Harmaline Coca Harmine Hallucinogen Benzoylecgonine Tryptamine Thigmotaxis Traditional medicine
Citations	15
Key findings	Coca leaves were used in the region since the Early Nazca Period, and the oldest archaeological evidence of Banisteriopsis caapi and San Pedro cactus consumption was found, including in a trophy head victim.

Abstract

The preservation of naturally mummified bodies in the Nazca drainage and Yauca Valley provided an opportunity to analyse for the first time which of the psychoactive plants were used on the southern Peruvian coast. Toxicological analysis allows us to better understand the ancient medicine, trade network and religiosity of the region of interest. Hair samples of 22 individuals (including four trophy heads) were examined using LC-MS/MS for the presence of coca alkaloids and metabolites (cocaine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene), mescaline, tryptamine, harmaline, and harmine. LC–MS/MS was performed using electrospray ionization (ESI) in the positive mode, multiple reaction monitoring, and a deuterated internal standard (Diazepam-D5). The limits of quantification achieved for analytes were from 1 to 5 ng/g. Recoveries ranged from 91,6 to 113,7%. The method demonstrated an intraday and interday precision CV of <15%. The results of the study show that coca leaves were present on the southern Peruvian coast since the Early Nazca Period (100 BCE - 450 CE). The Nazca inhabitants were also positive tested for the presence of harmine and harmaline coming probably form Banisteriopsis caapi (the main compound of the hallucinogenic ayahuasca beverage), and the San Pedro cactus, a source of mescaline. This is the oldest archaeological evidence of the consumption of these two plants. In modern medicine, the properties of harmine have led to its use in anti-depression and anti-addiction treatment. Banisteriopsis caapi is native to the Amazonian rainforest and had to be the object of long-distance trade, which showed its important role in ancient medicine and rituals. San Pedro cactus is taken for its strong hallucinogenic properties and was detected in hair belonging to a child victim whose head was transformed into a trophy head. This is the first proof that some of the victims transformed into trophy heads were given stimulants prior to their death.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on mescaline, most cited first.

Study	Year	Design	Participants
Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults	2015	Observational cohort	n = 135,095
Long-lasting subjective effects of LSD in normal subjects Healthy participants	2017	Observational cohort	n = 16
Psychological and cognitive effects of long-term peyote use among Native Americans. Navajo Native Americans aged 18-45	2005	Observational cohort	n = 176
Mescaline-induced psychopathological, neuropsychological, and neurometabolic effects in normal subjects: experimental psychosis as a tool for psychiatric research. Normal men who were volunteers	1992	Observational cohort	n = 12
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methyl-amphetamine (STP): A New Hallucinogenic Drug Normal control volunteers	1967	Observational study

Citations in the library

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