A new archaeological study suggests that a mysterious civilization that once thrived in the Peruvian Andes may have used hallucinogenic substances to deepen spiritual rituals—and reinforce social control.
Researchers investigating the ceremonial site of Chavín de Huántar, nestled high in the Andes at over 10,000 feet above sea level, have found what appears to be the earliest physical evidence of psychoactive plant use in this part of the world. Their discovery points to a striking connection between altered states of consciousness and the consolidation of religious and political power in one of South America’s earliest complex societies.
The Chavín culture, which flourished between 1200 and 200 BCE, is known for its enigmatic stone carvings, intricate temple architecture, and its reputation as a major religious center. But now, thanks to an international team of archaeologists and chemists, we know that its ritual practices may have included the controlled use of hallucinogens—not as a communal or recreational activity, but as a carefully curated spiritual experience limited to a select few.
The team discovered a set of hollow bone tubes and other ceremonial objects buried deep within the site’s underground galleries—dark, narrow corridors that once hosted ritual activity. These artifacts were analyzed using a combination of chemical residue analysis and microscopy. The results were clear: the tubes had been used to inhale substances derived from psychoactive plants.
Among the compounds detected were traces of nicotine from wild varieties of tobacco and chemical signatures consistent with vilca, a powerful hallucinogen derived from the seeds of Anadenanthera trees. Vilca contains compounds related to DMT, one of the most intense known psychoactive substances.
But what makes this discovery especially intriguing is not just the drugs themselves—but how they were used. According to Dr. Daniel Contreras, an archaeologist at the University of Florida and one of the study’s lead authors, these experiences were likely part of elite, highly structured rituals. “This wasn’t a festival. It was about authority, transformation, and control,” Contreras explained.
The rituals were likely designed to awe and overwhelm the senses. The Chavín temples included acoustically engineered spaces and visual artwork meant to disorient and inspire. With the addition of hallucinogens, participants may have interpreted their intense experiences as divine encounters—visions that only the most powerful members of society could access or interpret.
In other words, the Chavín elite weren’t just spiritual guides; they positioned themselves as intermediaries between the human and supernatural worlds. And through ritualized use of psychoactive plants, they may have crafted a deeply convincing ideology that tied religious revelation to their own leadership.
This approach to ritual and power stands in contrast to other ancient cultures where hallucinogens were used in more communal settings. In Chavín society, it appears that only a chosen few—likely priests or rulers—had access to these substances during tightly orchestrated ceremonies. By limiting access to such potent tools of transformation, they may have reinforced their dominance over the wider population.
The study, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offers a rare glimpse into how early civilizations used both spiritual belief and sensory manipulation to support the development of hierarchical societies.
“This kind of evidence helps us better understand how people in the past used not just architecture and art, but also chemistry and psychology, to shape the world they lived in,” said Contreras.
In the end, these findings serve as a powerful reminder that human beings have long sought meaning beyond the visible—and that those in power have often helped shape, guide, and sometimes control that search.
For more on this discovery, visit: ScienceDaily – May 2025 Study
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