Researchers have uncovered new evidence of substances consumed by children before they were sacrificed in ancient Inca rituals, using chemical traces preserved in their mummified remains.

The study, published in the journal Antiquity, analysed hair and nail samples from eight mummies discovered at sacred mountain sites in Peru and Argentina. The children, who died around 500 years ago, were believed to have been sacrificed as part of a religious ceremony known as capacocha.

The findings offer a closer look at how the children may have been prepared for the ritual, including the possible use of substances to help them endure difficult journeys and the final stages of the ceremony.

Cocaine Traces Were Found in the Mummies

The researchers detected cocaine and benzoylecgonine, a compound produced when the body breaks down cocaine, in all the hair samples analysed.

The findings are consistent with the children consuming coca leaves, which were widely used in the Andes for cultural, religious and practical purposes. Chewing coca leaves can help reduce hunger and fatigue, potentially helping the children withstand long journeys through mountainous terrain.

Researchers also identified cocaethylene in samples from some of the children. The compound forms when cocaine and alcohol are present in the body at the same time, suggesting that these individuals consumed both substances.

The alcohol may have come from chicha, a fermented maize drink used in Inca religious ceremonies.

One Child's Nails Contained a Compound Linked to Ayahuasca

Another notable discovery was harmine, a psychoactive compound found in several plants, including Banisteriopsis caapi, one of the plants traditionally used to prepare ayahuasca.

Researchers detected the substance in the fingernails of a 14-year-old girl known as the Ampato Maiden, or Juanita. However, the analysis could not establish exactly which plant or preparation she had consumed.

The finding adds to earlier research that identified harmine-related compounds in other Inca mummies. It also raises questions about whether plants from the Amazon were transported across the Andes for religious or medicinal purposes.

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Researchers Found No Evidence of Several Hallucinogens

Despite detecting several psychoactive substances, the team found no traces of certain compounds associated with hallucinations, including mescaline, DMT and bufotenine, in the analysed samples.

This does not completely rule out the possibility that the children consumed these substances. A single dose close to death, for example, may not have left detectable traces in hair or nails.

However, the findings suggest that the substances may have served purposes beyond inducing altered states of consciousness. Coca leaves could have helped the children cope with physical exhaustion, while alcohol may have been used to calm or dull their senses.

Inca Sacrifice Practices Varied Across the Empire

Capacocha was among the Inca Empire's most important religious ceremonies. It was performed during significant events, including the death or accession of a ruler, major festivals and natural disasters.

Children were selected for sacrifice and taken on long journeys to sacred sites, often high in the Andes. Their bodies were buried with valuable objects as offerings to the gods.

The researchers found differences in the substances detected among the eight individuals, suggesting that preparations were not identical across the empire. Local religious traditions and the deities associated with particular mountains may have influenced which substances were used.

The findings provide further insight into the lives of children who died during these ceremonies, while showing how modern chemical analysis can reveal details of ancient practices preserved in human remains.

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