Proof that Ancient South Americans Took Hallucinogens Discovered in Mummies’ Hair

posted on November 8th, 2008 in Andes Mountains, Archaeology, Bolivia, Recent Discoveries, Tiwanaku Culture

Tiwanaku ceramic vessel in museum in La Paz, Bolivia; evidence of South Americans taking hallucinogens dates back at least to the Chavin culture, in north/central Peru, which flourished from 1,000 to 200 B.C.

Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen Use

Discovery News

Oct. 29, 2008 — Andean mummy hair has provided the first direct archaeological evidence of the consumption of hallucinogens in pre-Hispanic Andean populations, according to recent gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis…

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