Inca Sacrifice: Kids Drugged for Gods

The Inca believed that children sacrificed in the capacocha ritual would ascend to become messengers between humans and the divine. To aid this transition, these children were reportedly given offerings of coca leaves and alcohol. Recent analysis of hair and nail samples from eight Inca mummies, discovered on volcanoes in Peru and Argentina, has provided new insights.

Researchers identified cocaine, derived from the sacred coca plant, in all the mummies. Additionally, half of the individuals showed evidence of alcohol consumption, likely from maize beer chicha, a common ritual drink. Scientists theorize these substances were administered to calm the children during the rites.

The study, published in Antiquity, highlights that while coca use was common, the presence of other psychoactive substances varied among individuals and locations. This suggests that the preparation of children for these significant sacrificial events was not standardized across the vast Inca Empire, differing based on location and specific deities.

Hair analysis allows scientists to reconstruct details of the children's final months, revealing changes in substance consumption that may reflect stages of ritual preparation. The findings also underscore advancements in analytical methods, enabling the detection of substances in cases where previous research found none.