Residue analysis suggests ritual use of tobacco at the ancient Mesoamerican city of Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala

The widespread significance of tobacco in Mesoamerica is documented in historical and ethnographic sources, yet recovery of the organic remains of this plant from archaeological contexts is rare. Here, the authors present evidence for the ritual use of tobacco at Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala, during the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antiquity 2024-04, Vol.98 (398), p.518-534
Main Authors: Negrin, Adam, Chinchilla Mazariegos, Oswaldo, McNeil, Cameron L., Hurst, W. Jeffrey, Kennelly, Edward J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ancient cities
Ancient civilizations
Anthropological research
Archaeology
Caffeine
Ceramics
Chromatography
Excavation
Laboratories
Mass spectrometry
Nicotine
Pre-Columbian civilizations
Rituals
Scientific imaging
Social aspects
Solvents
Tobacco
Tobacco products
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Summary:The widespread significance of tobacco in Mesoamerica is documented in historical and ethnographic sources, yet recovery of the organic remains of this plant from archaeological contexts is rare. Here, the authors present evidence for the ritual use of tobacco at Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala, during the Late Classic period (AD 650–950). Detection of nicotine in residue analysis of three cylindrical ceramic vases recovered from cache deposits near the El Baúl acropolis suggests that these vessels contained tobacco infusions or other liquid preparations. These results suggest an ancient ritual practice involving tobacco for which there was previously no physical evidence in Mesoamerica.
ISSN:0003-598X
1745-1744
DOI:10.15184/aqy.2024.13