Scientists have found evidence that Europeans were using cocaine in the 17th century. This is proven by traces of this plant found in the brains of at least two mummified people.
Scientists have found evidence that Europeans were using coca in the 17th century, before the plant became popular in the 19th century.
According to scientists, this discovery challenges established ideas about the spread of coca in Europe, reports Popular Science.
In particular, researchers from the University of Milan and the IRCCS Ca’ Granda Foundation discovered traces of coca consumption in the brains of two mummified people who died in the 17th century and were buried in the crypt of the Ospedale Maggiore hospital in Milan , Italy. The analysis showed the presence of active ingredients of coca, such as cocaine, benzoylecgonine and hygrin.
This discovery forces us to reconsider the initial ideas about the spread of coca in Europe, because it was previously believed that its popularity grew only in the 19th century, when chemists were able to isolate the psychoactive substance which is cocaine from this plant.
Scientists suggest that the inhabitants of Europe in the 17th century may have used coca because of its ability to reduce appetite, saving lives during famine. It may also indicate that coca was cheap and accessible to poor populations at the time. However, researchers have not been able to determine how widely it was used in Europe at the time and for what purpose it was used.
It was previously reported that an international group of scientists conducted a new genetic analysis that disproved the popular myth about Kaspar Hauser.
Source: korrespondent
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