The discovery suggests that coca leaves have been transported to Europe since the 16th century.
The new discovery gives indications that coca leaves have reached Europe very early. Picture of Cusco, Peru, where leaves are sold in the market. AOP
Researchers have made an interesting discovery in Italy. Two mummified brains containing traces of cocaine have been found in a 17th-century burial chamber in Milan. Science Alert reported on the topic.
The discovery suggests that coca leaves have been traded between South America and Europe long before we imagined. The human remains are from almost 200 years before coca leaves began to be made into the narcotic substance known today: pure cocaine.
– The feeling of well-being caused by the plant and other effects, such as reduced hunger and thirst and the feeling of well-being, were known and controlled by the Spanish. Eventually they also spread to other parts of Europe, the researchers explain the discovery.
In the 17th century, Milan was under Spanish rule. During its time as a great power, Spain made several expeditions to the world together with Portugal. One of the most famous expeditions of that time, in our time, was the expedition of Christopher Columbus from 1492, when he is said to have discovered America.
Spain conquered large areas of South and North America during its great power days. Kokalehti has a long history in South America. For example, the Incas are believed to have cultivated coca fields for centuries.
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The burial chamber where the two mummified brains were found served as a hospital in Milan in the 17th century. The location has been completely closed until recently, so the researchers have no reason to suspect contamination from the environment either.
– From the molecules detected in the human remains in question, it can be concluded that they have ended up in the body in the form of chewing coca leaves or brewed tea leaves, reflects the team that made the discovery.
When consumed as tea, coca leaves act as a stimulant, comparable to a strong cup of coffee.
The former hospital patients in question were buried in a way that suggests that it would not have been a high-ranking couple. From this, the researchers have concluded that coca leaves were inexpensive and also easily available in 17th-century Milan.
Milan Forensic Toxicologist Gaia Giardiano and his team did not find traces of cocaine, or molecules related to it, elsewhere in the burial chamber.
Archaeologists collected the human remains found in the burial chamber dressed in protective gear. The remains were stored in sealed, sterilized jars.
Correction on September 5, 2024 at 6:20 a.m.: According to historical data, Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, not 1512, as the article initially stated incorrectly.
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