In the Inca civilization, which lived on the west coast of South America and was among the greatest civilizations in history, ritual human sacrifice, especially child sacrifice (capacocha) was a common ritual. It was performed to celebrate major events such as the sacrifice of children, the birth of a new baby for the royal family, or the victory of a war.
Today, an interesting discovery about the Inca Civilization has been announced. In a new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, scientists revealed that ritually sacrificed children were given cocaine before being sacrificed. The study conducted a toxicological analysis of two children, aged six and seven, who were burned during the ritual more than 500 years ago.
He was given drugs to relieve his anxiety
- Replica of the famous Inca ‘Plomo Mummy’.
In samples taken from the nails and hair of child mummies, researchers discovered that the victims chewed coca leaves in their last weeks and were drunk with a drink called ‘ayahuasca’. It was explained that this was suspected to be using the antidepressant properties found in Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant from which the drink was made, to “reduce the anxiety and depressive states of the victims.”
Another study published in the journal PNAS in 2013 included an analysis of the diet of a 13-year-old Inca girl. In this analysis, it was revealed that the child started to consume coca and alcohol before being sacrificed. It is thought that these methods enable children to be more ‘prepared’ for the victim.
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