The discovery of cocaine in the mummified brain tissue of two individuals buried in Milan has rewritten our understanding of the plant’s arrival in Europe. This groundbreaking finding, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, reveals that Europeans were chewing coca leaves in the 17th century, nearly two centuries before its documented introduction.
Researchers examined the brains of nine individuals from the 1600s, naturally mummified and buried in a crypt at Ospedale Maggiore, a hospital for the destitute in Milan. Using a mass spectrometer, they identified three key molecules – cocaine, hygrine, and benzoylecgonine – in the brain tissue of two individuals. The presence of hygrine strongly indicates that the cocaine originated from the consumption of coca leaves, as the typical method of consuming cocaine salt does not produce this compound.
This discovery significantly predates the earliest known documented use of coca leaves in Europe, which occurred in the 1800s. The individuals in question lived around 350 years ago, as confirmed by radiocarbon dating. This suggests that coca leaves somehow reached Europe much earlier than previously thought, possibly through clandestine trade routes or accidental introduction.
While coca leaves were known for their medicinal and recreational properties among the Indigenous populations of South America, their use in Europe was initially kept under wraps by the Spanish conquistadors. However, the plant’s ability to suppress hunger and fatigue made it highly valuable for laborers in the gold and silver mines and plantations.
The presence of cocaine in the mummified brains suggests that these individuals were likely close to death when they consumed coca leaves, potentially for medical or recreational purposes. One of the individuals was also known to be an opium user and suffered from tertiary syphilis, further hinting at a possible self-medication aspect.
It is unclear how these individuals obtained coca leaves, as hospital records from that era make no mention of cocaine as a treatment. It is possible that they sourced the plant themselves or obtained it from healers practicing outside the hospital.
The discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the history of coca use in Europe and the complexities of early trade networks. It also raises questions about the cultural and societal contexts surrounding the plant’s introduction to a new continent and its potential use for both medical and recreational purposes.
