Prehistoric native South Americans found and chewed refreshing coca
If you venture into dense jungles of South America, you may find the natives chewing a green leaf and some white powder (lime) with great relish. They do not care that their mouths and teeth are stained green by juice. These leaves come from a 2-4 meters tall evergreen dwarf shrub, coca, that is very like the common plant camellia. They are adapted to tropical and subtropical mountainous regions at altitudes between 500 and 2,000 meters.
Archaeologists speculate that they may have been consumed by our ancestors as early as the Neolithic era. Coca leaves were picked as a famine food by hunter-gatherers who roamed and lived in the eastern foothills of Andes. These hunter-gatherers also discovered coca leaves made them invigorating and forget fatigue and pain caused by high altitudes, as coca contain an alkaloid called cocaine. Cocaine can also slightly dilate blood vessels, accelerate heart rate, and strengthen respiratory system. Oxygen is transported to tissues and organs more efficiently. Thus, chewing coca leaves became a custom among the people near Andes.
The earliest archaeological evidence consists of murals and statues dating back over 4,000 years: small pouches containing coca leaves hung from the chest; figures with bulging cheeks indicated they might have been chewing coca leaves with one side of their teeth. At various civilization site, spoons, clay pots or small plant bottles holding lime were also found, some even made of gold. Archaeologists have also unearthed coca leaf remains in tombs in southwestern Ecuador and northern Chile, and the oldest dates back over 4,000 years. Cocaine traces were also found in the hair of Chilean mummies. Radiocarbon dating shows the mummies are at least 1,500 years old. Anyone who has undergone drug testing knows that once cocaine or its metabolites are fixed in the hair, they are retained almost indefinitely until hair falls out.
Ancient indigenous peoples mixed lime or plant ash directly with coca leaves to chew. They spit out the residue instead of swallowing. Fresh leaves were sometimes air-dried for storage. Dried leaves were brewed with hot water into an invigorating coca tea. Some south American natives crushed coca leaves and applied them to wounds to alleviate pain.
Coca trees were domesticated and integrated into Andean culture
Wild coca leaves could not meet the growing demand, as almost all native South Americans were addicted. Before 4,000 years ago, they were sporadically planted near tribes to provide more fresh leaves. Scattered and spontaneous planting gradually developed into dedicated coca plantations in the Inca Empire. Inca kings even waged wars to conquer barbarian tribes surrounding the empire. One of their objectives was to seize lands more suitable for coca or to eliminate disturbances to plantations by barbarians. The Incas constructed terraces in steeper mountains. Some slopes were so steep that extremely narrow terraces could only accommodate one row of trees.
Large-scale cultivation fully integrated coca into the Incas' lives and culture. It was regarded as a sacred tree. It meant strength, vitality, and a psychic offering. Before building houses, coca leaves and other offerings were buried to pray permission from land god. Inti Raymi was the grandest festival for solar deity in the Inca Empire. It was held on the winter solstice. One of offerings was dried coca leaves that was ignited on the altar. The Incas thanked solar deity for this year's harvest and prayed for next year's abundance. Men had to chew coca leaves to complete the coming-of-age ceremony, as minors were not allowed to taste them. Besides placing food and daily necessities, some coca leaves were stuffed into the mouths of the deceased to ensure eternal souls.
The earliest surgery and Inca Empire's communication depended on human legs
Archaeologists have also discovered numerous human skulls with a hole that is evidence of ancient surgery. From a modern perspective, this might be excessive pressure in brain due to altitude sickness, and drilling a hole could indeed alleviate pressure-induced headaches. However, ancient Native Americans believed that headaches were caused by evil spirits in head, and they should be released through drillings. Patients drunk coca juice brewed by tribal shamans. Cocaine makes the nervous system more excited because it blocks the recycling of various neurotransmitters such as dopamine for pleasure and relaxation. Simultaneously, nerve electrical signals are also blocked by it. The success rate of the operation was surprisingly high considering the low level of medical care in ancient times, because more than half of the wound edges had new bone tissue. Patients survived for at least months or even years after operation.
Another intriguing example is the Inca Empire's communication and transportation system that depended on human legs. The South American continent originally had horses, but they were hunted to extinction by Homo sapiens, and there was no local alternative animal. Therefore, relay stations located at regular intervals where the dry coca leaves, food and other supplies were stored for troops, officials and messengers. Messengers tirelessly traveled back and forth between relay stations with help of coca leaves. This relay-race method enabled information to be transmitted about 200 kilometers per day within the Inca Empire. However, compared to empires with horses, this speed was still very slow. Urgent military information in China could be transmitted approximately 400 kilometers a day.
The Andean culture venerates coca not solely for cocaine. Scientists have discovered that coca leaves contain abundant essential vitamins and minerals. Thus, coca is indeed a divine gift for Andes regions where agriculture is undeveloped, and vegetables and fruits are scarce. Cocaine also spoils appetite against hunger.