Scientists Identify Contents of Ancient Maya Drug Containers

0
460
Maya Container

Revealed: The Secrets our Clients Used to Earn $3 Billion

Frontal and lateral view of a Muna-type (ADVERTISEMENT 750-900) paneled flask with unique serrated-edge decor. Credit: WSU

Scientists have actually recognized the existence of a non-tobacco plant in ancient Maya drug containers for the very first time.

The Washington State University scientists spotted Mexican marigold (Tagetes lucida) in residues drawn from 14 mini Maya ceramic vessels.

Originally buried more than 1,000 years earlier on Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, the vessels likewise consist of chemical traces present in 2 kinds of dried and treated tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum and N. rustica. The research study group, led by sociology postdoc Mario Zimmermann, believes the Mexican marigold was combined with the tobacco to make cigarette smoking more pleasurable.

The discovery of the vessels’ contents paints a clearer image of ancient Maya substance abuse practices. The research study, which was released today (January 15, 2021) in Scientific Reports, likewise leads the way for future research studies examining other kinds of psychedelic and non-psychoactive plants that were smoked, chewed, or snuffed amongst the Maya and other pre-Colombian societies.

Maya Cist Burial

Maya cist burial with common ceramic offerings – Plate covering the head of the departed person and cup positioned most likely with food. Credit: WSU

“While it has been established that tobacco was commonly used throughout the Americas before and after contact, evidence of other plants used for medicinal or religious purposes has remained largely unexplored,” Zimmermann stated. “The analysis methods developed in collaboration between the Department of Anthropology and the Institute of Biological Chemistry give us the ability to investigate drug use in the ancient world like never before.”

Zimmermann and coworkers’ work was enabled by NSF-funded research study which resulted in a brand-new metabolomics-based analysis technique that can find countless plant substances or metabolites in residue gathered from containers, pipelines, bowls and other historical artifacts. The substances can then be utilized to determine which plants were taken in.

Previously, the recognition of ancient plant residues counted on the detection of a minimal variety of biomarkers, such as nicotine, anabasine, cotinine and caffeine.

Archaeologists Excavating Cist Burial

PARME personnel archaeologists excavating cist burial at the Tamanache website, Mérida, Yucatan. Credit: WSU

“The issue with this is that while the presence of a biomarker like nicotine shows tobacco was smoked, it doesn’t tell you what else was consumed or stored in the artifact,” stated David Gang, a teacher in WSU’s Institute of Biological Chemistry and a co-author of the research study. “Our approach not only tells you, yes, you found the plant you’re interested in, but it also can tell you what else was being consumed.”

Zimmermann assisted uncover 2 of the ritualistic vessels that were utilized for the analysis in the spring of 2012. At the time, he was dealing with a dig directed by the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico on the borders of Mérida where a professional had exposed proof of a Maya archeological website while clearing lands for a brand-new real estate complex.

Zimmermann and a group of archeologists utilized GPS devices to divide the location into a checkerboard-like grid. They then hacked their method through thick jungle looking for little mounds and other dead giveaways of ancient structures where the remains of crucial individuals such as shamans are in some cases discovered.

“When you find something really interesting like an intact container it gives you a sense of joy,” Zimmermann stated. “Normally, you are lucky if you find a jade bead. There are literally tons of pottery sherds but complete vessels are scarce and offer a lot of interesting research potential.”

Zimmermann stated the WSU research study group is presently in settlements with numerous organizations in Mexico to get access to more ancient containers from the area that they can examine for plant residues. Another task they are presently pursuing is taking a look at natural residues maintained in the oral plaque of ancient human remains.

“We are expanding frontiers in archaeological science so that we can better investigate the deep time relationships people have had with a wide range of psychoactive plants, which were (and continue to be) consumed by humans all over the world,” stated Shannon Tushingham, a teacher of Anthropology at WSU and a co-author of the research study. “There are many ingenious ways in which people manage, use, manipulate and prepare native plants and plant mixtures, and archaeologists are only beginning to scratch the surface of how ancient these practices were.”

Reference: “Metabolomics-based analysis of miniature flask contents identifies tobacco mixture use among the ancient Maya” by Mario Zimmermann, Korey J. Brownstein, Luis Pantoja Díaz, Iliana Ancona Aragón, Scott Hutson, Barry Kidder, Shannon Tushingham and David R. Gang, 15 January 2021, Scientific Reports.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81158-y