Coca leaves first chewed 8,000 years ago, says research

BBC ^ | December 1, 2010

[decimon]

Peruvian foraging societies were already chewing coca leaves 8,000 years ago, archaeological evidence has shown.

Ruins beneath house floors in the northwestern Peru showed evidence of chewed coca and calcium-rich rocks.

Such rocks would have been burned to create lime, chewed with coca to release more of its active chemicals.

Writing in the journal Antiquity, an international team said the discovery pushed back the first known coca use by at least 3,000 years.

Coca leaves contain a range of chemical compounds known as alkaloids. In modern times, the most notable among them is cocaine, extracted and purified by complex chemical means.

But the chewing of coca leaves for medicinal purposes has long been known to be a pastime at least as old as the Inca civilisation.

Other alkaloids within the leaves have mildly stimulating effects, can reduce hunger and aid digestion, and can mitigate the effects of high-altitude, low-oxygen environments.

[decimon]

Caste high ping.

[BunnySlippers]

Ick!

[microgood]

Other alkaloids within the leaves have mildly stimulating effects, can reduce hunger and aid digestion, and can mitigate the effects of high-altitude, low-oxygen environments.

The Incas had messengers that ran across the high mountain passes to deliver messages throughout the kingdom that used coca leaves for endurance and speed.

I knew some people that were given coca tea when landing in Quito Ecuador in order to acclimate to the high altitude of that city.

[decimon]

I knew some people that were given coca tea when landing in Quito Ecuador in order to acclimate to the high altitude of that city.

Good welcoming committee.

[crazydad]

Wheres the Picture of Tony Montana with the pile of coke? COCAINE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS.

[InvisibleChurch]

And where are they now? Dead. Drugs are no good.

[decimon]

And where are they now? Dead. Drugs are no good.

I've read that chewing coca leaves is not that big a deal. Not at all like the concentrated extract that is cocaine.

[bunkerhill7]

My cat chews catnip and grass to get high.

[decimon]

My cat chews catnip and grass to get high.

If it starts building a pyramid with an altar...

[TigersEye]

The Mongolians didn’t paddle all the way around the Pacific Rim in hide covered canoes just to taste the difference between roast yak and roast llama.

[SunkenCiv]

• This Man Swallowed An Entire Bag Of Cocaine (Oh yes, there is a photo)

[Cementjungle]

I knew some people that were given coca tea when landing in Quito Ecuador in order to acclimate to the high altitude of that city.

Same thing in Cuzco, Peru (where you fly to when visiting Machu Picchu). I brought back a box of coca tea when I was there.

[COBOL2Java]

But the chewing of coca leaves for medicinal purposes has long been known to be a pastime at least as old as the Inca civilisation.

...especially if you swallow an entire bag of cocaine...

[SunkenCiv]

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[colorado tanker]

"Some get their kicks from cocaine . . ."

[Koracan]

Coca leaves first chewed 8,000 years ago

So that means as soon we reached higher Consciousness, we tried to undo it.

[MHGinTN]

Um, are you assuming the human race reached higher consciousness thousands of years after they built major stone structures? ... There are remains of huge stone structures which date back tens of thousands of years.

[LadyDoc]

chewing the leaves give you a mild buzz, helps relieve hunger, and gives you energy. Locals use it like we use coffee or tea, and often use it to treat the tiredness from living at 8000 feet above sea level.

Yes, it can be abused, but it takes quite a bit.

It’s not the same as snorting cocaine, which is the concentrated chemical.

It’s like you can become an alcoholic by drinking 2 percent beer, but it’s not the same as rotgut whiskey.

[wildbill]

C’mon guys! We can win this war against drugs if we just give it more time and money.

Look at the evidence of success. The S. Americans are having to concentrate the drug from leaves to powder nowadays just to have a market and make it easier to hide and ship.

And they’ve all but stopped exporting marijuana since so much is grown in the US now in labs and our National Parks.

We’re Winning!!! Yeaaaaaaa!