Archaeologists have uncovered significant evidence of ancient psychedelic drug use in Peru, revealing that the practices may have been integral to social hierarchies over 2,500 years ago. Site excavations at Chavín de Huántar yielded some pretty incredible discoveries. It has been referred to as the “Grand Central Station” of ritual activity, thriving from 1200 B.C. to 400 B.C. This extraordinary archaeological site is located in the north-central highlands of Peru. When researchers recently discovered that secret drug room, which had remained hermetically sealed since roughly 500 B.C., it attracted international headlines.
In 2017, excavations at last breathed new life into the clandestine drug room. There, archaeologists found 23 of these artifacts, each one hand-carved from animal bone and shell with precision. These artifacts look like small tubes and spoons. Yet they provide key information about the ritualistic practices that must have flourished among the people of Chavín. Daniel Contreras, a postdoctoral archaeologist at the University of Florida, was the study’s lead author. It was recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on May 5th.
Analysis of chemical residue found on the artifacts revealed the presence of nicotine, an important lead. It disclosed the discovery of dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a naturally occurring hallucinogenic compound commonly associated with ayahuasca tea. Most surprisingly, six of the artifacts were found to have nicotine in them, indeed coming from tobacco plants. Four other artifacts had evidence of wild Nicotiana species roots. Researchers found evidence of vilca (Anadenanthera colubrina) seeds and leaves. This indicates that humans can and did develop these conditions to manufacture a potent snuff.
“The tubes would have been used — we think — as inhalers,” Contreras explained, drawing parallels between these ancient artifacts and modern practices. He likened the tubes to “the rolled-up bills that high-rollers snort cocaine through in the movies,” emphasizing their role in ritual consumption.
Paleoanthropological evidence suggests that in these highly controlled settings, humans almost definitely consumed psychoactive substances. Archaeological evidence suggests this practice may have reinforced or created new social hierarchies within Chavín society. According to Contreras, “One of the ways that inequality was justified or naturalized was through ideology — through the creation of impressive ceremonial experiences that made people believe this whole project was a good idea.” It certainly seems likely that this successful manipulation of ritual and belief systems greatly contributed to the succession of more hierarchical empires. This occurred with dominant cultures such as Tiwanaku, Wari and Inca.
The find at Chavín de Huántar is shedding some tantalizing light on the community’s evolving cultural practices of constantly moving culture forward. More broadly, it emphasizes the role of ritualized drug use in structuring society across ancient Peru. With a deeper knowledge of these practices, researchers can make more sense of the intricacies of social organization and governance in these pre-Columbian societies.
