Milan, at the time, was controlled by the Spaniards. The Spaniards were also the dominant force in trade with the Americas and introduced coca to Europe. Despite historical accounts that emphasize their focus on more lucrative commodities like silver, gold, and tobacco, this study suggests that coca might have quietly crossed the Atlantic much earlier than previously thought.
This is all the more curious because coca leaves were notoriously difficult to transport. They don’t keep well and the Spanish knew this very well. Deteriorating leaves couldn’t be used and there are virtually no historical mentions of this type of trade.
These findings also challenge historians and archaeologists to reconsider the scope of drug use in early modern Europe. If coca was indeed available and consumed in 17th-century Milan, how widespread was its use? Was it confined to medical purposes, or did it also serve recreational or ritualistic roles? Was the drug common but simply frowned upon and ignored? And if coca was present, what other “exotic” substances from the New World might have found their way into European hands far earlier than documented?
Ultimately, the researchers call for more research in other places to assess whether traces of coca can be found. To solve this type of archaeological puzzle, it’s important to combine multiple lines of evidence (historical, toxicological, archaeological). The interplay between these disciplines can challenge long-held assumptions and give us a more nuanced understanding of our collective history. Who knows what other surprises we’ll find?
Journal Reference: Gaia Giordano et al, Forensic toxicology backdates the use of coca plant (Erythroxylum spp.) in Europe to the early 1600s, Journal of Archaeological Science (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2024.106040
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66f48c62c1bc4cd6afd4486a9def4842&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Farchaeology%2Fpeople-in-europe-were-consuming-cocaine-back-in-the-17th-century%2F&c=11179069255280413138&mkt=de-de
Author :
Publish date : 2024-09-25 15:10:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
