At a height of 10,000 feet in the Peruvian Andes (Peruvian Andes), archaeologists have found compelling evidence that ancient leaders not only used hallucinogenic matter for spiritual exploration, but also as exquisite tools of social control.
A team of researchers at the University of Florida, Stanford University and several institutions in South America have found direct evidence of the earliest use of psychoactive plants in the Peruvian Andes, dating back to about 3,000 years. Their findings were published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealing new revelations of Chaven society establishing and maintaining hierarchical structures long before the rise of the Inca Empire.
The team found that an ancient snuff pipe carved from hollow bones was found in the private stone structure of the prehistoric ritual center Chavín DeHuántar. Chemical and microscopic analysis revealed that these tools contain residues of two powerful substances: nicotine and Vilca Bean residue from wild tobacco relatives, Vilca Bean residue, which are hallucinogens associated with DMT.
“Taking psychoactive agents is not just about seeing visions. It is part of a strictly controlled ritual that may be reserved for a few, strengthening social hierarchy,” said Daniel Contreras, an anthropological archaeologist who studied.
What is particularly important about these findings is the exclusive nature of these rituals. With the use of hallucinogens in many ancient cultures, Chavan’s rituals seem to be deliberately confined to small groups in private rooms, creating what researchers call “a breath of mystery and control.”
The setup itself is designed to strengthen these experiences. The snuff pipe is in an interior that can accommodate only a few participants at a time, nestled in a dominant huge stone structure. For those allowed to attend, the experience can be profound and even scary—the intentions of those who carefully planned the ceremony.
“The supernatural world is not necessarily friendly, but it is powerful,” Contreras explained. “These rituals are usually enhanced by psychoactive agents, are powerful, transformative experiences that enhance belief systems and social structures.”
Build strength through faith
Contreras studied Chavín website for nearly 30 years, a team led by Dr. John Rick, a professor emeritus at Stanford University. Their research shows that these psychoactive rituals play a crucial role in establishing the early class structures of Andean society.
Chavín leaders seem to use these controlled supernatural experiences to convince their communities that their authority is related to mysterious power and part of the natural order. This approach provides an alternative to forced labor, rather than being willing to participate in building huge structures because they believe in their importance.
“Through ideologically, inequality is a way to justify or naturalize, and it is by creating impressive ritual experiences that make people believe that the entire project is a good idea,” Contreras said.
Studies show that these rituals expand not only on psychedelics. Archaeologists also found that the trumpet made by Conch Shell and Chamber was obviously designed to enhance the musical performance, creating a multi-sensory experience for participants.
A century-old mystery
These findings help solve problems that have plagued archaeologists since Chavín de Huántar first excavated more than a hundred years ago. The site has long been considered a transition point between an early, more equal society and a crossed empire on the hills, ruled by powerful elites that emerged later.
The discovery of the mysterious experience of controlled visits helps explain this significant social transition. Research shows that even in the early stages, complex societies incorporate psychoactive substances into ritual activities to enhance the power structure.
According to this study, the evidence represents “direct identification of contents in psychoactive instruments in Hispanic Peru” and provides new revelations for “the content and function of the rituals of Chavín de Huántar and other early commemorative centers.”
These insights are combined with modern analytical methods through decades of careful exploration, including advanced micro-mechanical and chemical analyses that detect thousands of years of residues.
“It’s exciting that the ongoing excavations can be combined with cutting-edge archaeological science and technology to give us a better understanding of what it feels like to live on this site,” Contreras noted.
The Chavan society is sometimes called the Chavan phenomenon, and common art, architecture and materials were spread throughout Peru about 200,000 years ago before the Inca Empire. Through agricultural innovation, process production and trade, they have shaped a growing social order and foundation for the hierarchical society of the Higher Andean Summit.
But, as this new study shows, their most lasting innovation may be mastering the powerful connection between changing consciousness and social control – this relationship
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