Analysis of Inca child mummies reveals ritual use of coca, alcohol

Researchers studying eight preserved mummies of children from the Inca Empire have identified traces of coca and alcohol in their remains, providing new insights into pre-Columbian sacrificial rituals. The examination of hair and nail samples revealed that the children had ingested these substances, indicating their consumption was integral to the ceremonial process preceding their deaths.

The findings demonstrate that ritual practices among the Inca were not uniform but varied according to local customs and regional traditions. Different children in the study showed varying levels of coca and alcohol consumption, suggesting that individual ceremonies may have been tailored to specific cultural or geographical contexts within the empire.

One of the most significant discoveries involved a mummy known as Juanita, whose remains contained traces of harmine, a compound found in certain psychoactive plants. This discovery indicates that specialized ritualistic preparations, potentially involving multiple hallucinogenic or intoxicating substances, were employed in some high-status ceremonies.

The research expands scholarly understanding of Inca religious practices and the sophistication of their ceremonial traditions. By analyzing biological markers in the mummies' hair and nails, scientists have been able to reconstruct aspects of the final days of these individuals, offering a window into the complex spiritual and cultural world of the Inca civilization.