1,000-Year-Old Vessels in Guatemala Contained Nicotine, Potentially Used for Ritual Purposes

Archaeologists in Guatemala have made a fascinating discovery, unearthing a collection of pre-Hispanic ceramic vases that contained traces of nicotine, possibly utilized in rituals. The vessels, discovered at the archaeological site of Cotzumalhuapa, shed light on ancient Mesoamerican practices during the Late Classic Period (A.D. 650 to 950).
While historical accounts hinted at tobacco use in Mesoamerica, physical evidence was scarce until now. The findings, published in the journal Antiquity, reveal that three out of seven vases analyzed showed traces of tobacco, suggesting its ceremonial importance.
What’s particularly intriguing is that the vessels’ design suggests they were likely used to hold liquids rather than being for smoking or sniffing tobacco in powder form. This implies that tobacco may have been consumed as a liquid infusion, possibly alongside other ingestion methods.
The researchers speculate that the nicotine-laced drinks might have been used in rituals to induce deep sleep, visions, and divinatory trances. This aligns with prior evidence of similar practices among the Aztecs and Indigenous peoples in the Caribbean Isles.
Furthermore, the vessels’ proximity to sweat baths at Cotzumalhuapa suggests that tobacco infusions may have been part of purification rituals.
This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the timeline of tobacco usage in the Americas, indicating that its ceremonial use began earlier than previously thought. Although not the earliest evidence, the find adds depth to our understanding of ancient rituals and their reliance on psychoactive substances.

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