A group of scientists first identified the presence of a non-tobacco plant in the old containers with medicinal substances used by the Mayans.
Researchers at Washington State University detected Mexican marigold (Tagetes lucida) in waste taken from 14 miniature Mayan ceramic vessels.
Originally buried more than 1,000 years ago a la Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, the containers also contain chemical traces present in two types of cured and dry tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum i N. rustica.
Researchers at Washington State University detected Mexican marigold (Tagetes him). Photo: Wikipedia
The research team, led by Washington State University postdoctoral fellow in anthropology Mario Zimmermann, believes that Mexican calendula was mixed with tobacco to make smoking more pleasant.
The discovery of the contents of the containers provides a clearer picture of the practices of use of medicinal substances of the ancient Maya. The research, which was published in Scientific reports, Also paves the way for future research studies other types of psychoactive and non-psychoactive plants that were smoked, chewed, or inhaled among the Maya and other pre-Columbian societies.
“While it has been established that tobacco was commonly used in all of the Americas before and after contact, evidence of other plants used for medicinal or religious purposes remains largely unexplored,” Zimmermann explained. in a statement. And he detailed: “The methods of analysis 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“.
An innovative method
The work of Zimmermann and his colleagues was made possible with a new method of analysis based on the metabolomics which can detect thousands of plant compounds or metabolites in waste collected from containers, pipes, bowls and other archaeological artifacts. The compounds can then be used to identify which plants were consumed.
One of the miniature Mayan ceramic jars where they found the remains of medicinal substances. Photo: WSU
Previously, the identification of ancient plant residues was based on the detection of a limited number of biomarkers, such as nicotine, anabasin, cotinine, and caffeine.
“The problem with this is that while the presence of a biomarker like nicotine shows that tobacco was smoked, it doesn’t tell you what else was consumed or stored in the device,” said David Gang, a professor at the ‘WSU Institute of Biological Chemistry and co-author of the study. “Our approach not only tells you, yes, that you found the plant that interests you, but it can also tell you what else was being consumed.”
Zimmermann helped unearth two of the ceremonial vessels which were used for analysis in the spring of 2012. At the time, he was working on an excavation led by the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico on the outskirts of Merida, Where a contractor discovered evidence of a Mayan archeological site while clearing land for a new housing complex.
Zimmermann and a team of archaeologists used GPS equipment to divide the area into a grid similar to a chessboard. They then made their way through the dense jungle in search of small mounds and other telltale signs of ancient buildings where the remains of important people such as the shamans.
The team of archaeologists working in Mexico. Photo: WSU
“When we found something really interesting like an intact container, it gives us a sense of joy,” Zimmermann said. “We’re usually lucky if we find a jade bead. There are literally tons of ceramic pots, but complete containers are scarce and offer great interesting research potential“.
Zimmermann explained that the research team is currently in negotiations with several institutions in Mexico to access older containers in the region that they can analyze for plant waste.
Another project they are currently carrying out is to look for organic waste preserved in the dental plaque of ancient human remains.
Europa Press.
