What Did the Scientists Discover?
The Wari culture flourished between 600 and 1000 AD. This is primarily known for its mummification skills, human sacrifices, and exquisite gold, silver, and bronze artifacts. The people of the empire built cities like Wari and Pikillacta, complete with temples and prestigious residences for the elite. This civilization controlled parts of present-day Peru, Argentina, and Chile.
Researchers believe that the rulers of the Wari tribe mixed psychedelics into , which they consumed with high-profile guests at banquets. The effects of the substances in the drink could last for weeks.
Specifically, this involved seeds from the plant Anadenanthera colubrina, which were found at archaeological sites alongside remnants of beer made from the Schinus molle plant. Justin Jennings, curator of South American archaeology at the museum and co-author of the study, told Live Science that this combination prolonged the effects of the beer. During multi-day drinking sessions in private residences, people who shared this experience became more open and empathetic.
This was crucial for Wari politicians, who leveraged the close interactions among dozens of people—who were previously strangers or even enemies—to consolidate their power.
Excavated remains of an ancient banquet and fragments of jugs containing psychedelics
The findings were published in La Revista de Arqueología Americana.
Colleagues’ Reactions
However, some scientists who did not participate in the study reacted ambivalently to the authors’ conclusions. Patrick Ryan Williams from Arizona State University, for example, stated that while the hypothesis is intriguing, one cannot be certain that the psychedelic found alongside the beer was actually mixed into the drink. He likened it to finding cocaine on a nightclub floor and claiming that it was added to drinks.
“When traces of the substance are found in the ceramic drinking vessels, I will be more open to the assumption presented here,” Williams said.
Mary Glowacki, president of the Pre-Columbian Archaeology Research Group, acknowledged that the article raises important questions. She confirmed that “most early Andean societies used intoxicating substances for political negotiations,” including Anadenanthera colubrina. However, the archaeologist expressed doubt that the use of psychedelics in the Wari Empire significantly differed from practices among other ancient peoples in the region.