Cocaine Use in 17th-Century Italy? Drug Traces Found in Mummified Brains

A recent examination of mummified brains from 17th-century Italians has revealed traces of cocaine, suggesting that the drug was in use much earlier than previously thought in Europe.

The discovery was made in preserved brain samples taken from bodies found in the Ca’Granda crypt, located near a well-known hospital of the era, Ospedale Maggiore, which catered to Milan’s poor and disadvantaged populations.

Researchers from the University of Milan analyzed these remains to get a clearer picture of medical practices at the time. Their findings, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, included toxicology tests on the brain matter from nine mummies, revealing that two contained active compounds from the Erythroxylum coca plant, the source of cocaine.

Gaia Giordano, a forensic toxicologist at the University of Milan, led the investigation. The team ensured the remains were handled with care, utilizing protective gear and sealing the remains in sterilized jars during the analysis.

The presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in the brain samples indicated that the individuals had consumed cocaine prior to their deaths. Additionally, traces of hygrine, an alkaloid found in the coca plant, supported the theory that the drug was used in its natural leaf form.

The researchers suggested that coca leaves might have been chewed or brewed as tea. This form of consumption, akin to drinking a robust cup of coffee, provided a mild stimulant effect. Historical records suggest that these effects, which included reduced hunger and enhanced feelings of well-being, were well known to the Spaniards who controlled Milan during that period and may have introduced the practice to Europe.

The burial methods of these individuals, indicating their low social status, and the affordability of coca leaves in 1600s Milan, were noted by the team. Despite this evidence, researchers could not conclusively determine whether the coca leaves were used medicinally at the hospital, as there were no contemporary records of its medicinal use during the 1600s.