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An artist’s imaginary depiction of a pharaoh burning herbs in a ritual. Source: Fair use

Dealing in the Past: How Did Ancient Egyptians Get Nicotine and Cocaine?

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The discovery of traces of nicotine and cocaine within 3,000-year-old human remains, which came to be known as Egypt’s cocaine mummies, raised curious questions amongst historians. Challenging existing historical narratives and prompting inquiries about potential transoceanic contact in antiquity, these controversial findings disrupted conventional narratives and prompted scholars to reconsider the scope of cultural exchanges in antiquity.

An examination in the 1970s of the mummy of Ramesses II revealed fragments of tobacco leaves in its abdomen. (CC BY SA 3.0)

An examination in the 1970s of the mummy of Ramesses II revealed fragments of tobacco leaves in its abdomen. (CC BY SA 3.0)

What Makes Traces of Nicotine and Cocaine in Egyptian Mummies Peculiar?

Today, many people believe that Christopher Columbus was not the first non-American to set foot in the New World. Current research has argued that the Vikings, Chinese, Greeks and Italians may have all been his predecessors. Some experts have even posited that ancient Egyptians were in the Americas as far back as 1,000 BC. How they've reached this conclusion is rather surprising.

In 1992, esteemed forensic toxicologist Dr. Svetla Balabanova announced a startling discovery. While examining the mummy of a member of the ancient Egyptian elite, she found traces of hashish, nicotine and cocaine, not only on the hair of Henut Taui but also on other mummies under analysis. The question soon arose: How did Lady Henut Taui have access to substances derived from the tobacco and coca plants as far back as 3,000 years ago?

To understand the conundrum, it’s important to remember that nicotine originates from tobacco leaves, while cocaine originates from coca leaves, both of which are native to the Americas. In fact, up until now the predominant belief was that 3,000 years ago these plants were only grown in the Americas and were not exported across the Atlantic Ocean until the 19th century.

The confusion which resulted from her research led academics to question the mummy’s authenticity or if the tests had been contaminated. One study published in the journal  Antiquity suggested that the answer to these bizarre results could lie in the post-excavation histories of the so-called cocaine mummies. Meanwhile, Balabanova’s results have continued to be used as proof by some theorists that ancient Egyptians reached the Americas millennia before Columbus.

Egyptian tomb painting from 1450 BC. Caption: "Officer with sounding pole...is telling crew to come ahead slow. Engineers with cat-o'-nine-tails assuring proper response from engines." (Public domain)

Egyptian tomb painting from 1450 BC. Caption: "Officer with sounding pole...is telling crew to come ahead slow. Engineers with cat-o'-nine-tails assuring proper response from engines." (Public domain)

The Seafaring Abilities of the Ancient Egyptians

Archaeological findings show that Egyptians were adept at navigating the seas. Notably, Queen Hatshepsut is known to have funded an expedition to the enigmatic Land of Punt circa 1477 BC, exemplifying their seafaring prowess. A relief portraying this journey discovered at Deir el-Bahri, situated in modern-day Luxor, further illuminates their maritime ventures.

The mural at Deir el-Bahri depicts large ships packed with men, gold, trees and exotic animals. The flora and fauna visible in the artwork is thought to have existed along the coasts of African and the Arabian Peninsula. These findings suggest that the ancient Egyptians could indeed complete longer oceanic voyages.

The discovery of an ancient harbor in 2013 during excavations at Wadi al-Jarf on the Red Sea coast of Egypt, furthered the belief in the seafaring capacity of the ancient Egyptians. Timber, rigging, reed mats, steering oars, cedar planks and limestone anchors were all unearthed within this ancient harbor complex, making it one of the oldest harbor structures found to date. Some even argued that the harbor may have been used for Hatshepsut’s voyage to the Land of Punt.

Members of Hatshepsut's trading expedition to the mysterious 'Land of Punt' from this pharaoh's elegant mortuary temple at Deir El-Bahri. (CC BY 2.0)

Members of Hatshepsut's trading expedition to the mysterious 'Land of Punt' from this pharaoh's elegant mortuary temple at Deir El-Bahri. (CC BY 2.0)

Exploring Transoceanic Links: Ancient Egyptians in the Americas?

The question of whether ancient Egyptians reached the Americas remains a subject of debate among scholars. While there is no conclusive evidence supporting direct contact between ancient Egypt and the Americas, which could explain the enigma of the cocaine mummies, some researchers point to intriguing clues that suggest the possibility.

Possible evidence of an unproven Egyptian voyage to the Americas in the Marble Region of the Grand Canyon was reported in April 1909 in  The Arizona Gazette, fueling speculation about ancient transoceanic voyages which could have aided in the trade of nicotine and cocaine.

The article stated that two explorers, funded by the Smithsonian, found various Egyptian artifacts within caves, including tablets with hieroglyphics; “Explorations in Grand Canyon; Mysteries of Immense Rich Cavern Being Brought to Light; Jordan Is Enthused; Remarkable Find Indicates Ancient People Migrated from Orient.”

The only problem is that the Smithsonian has no known record of what would have been a ground-breaking discovery.  The Arizona Gazette was also the only newspaper to have published the story, making it a probable example of fake news.

Such a discovery would have offered compelling evidence in support of the theory that ancient Egyptians reached the Americas. However, it might have posed a challenge to the traditional narrative celebrated each year on Columbus Day, which commemorates the "discovery" of the Americas by Christopher Columbus.

Top image: An artist’s imaginary depiction of a pharaoh burning herbs in a ritual. Source: Fair use

By Joanna Gillan

References

Balabanova, S. et al. 1992. “First Identification of Drugs in Egyptian Mummies” in  Naturwissenschaften 79, p. 358.

Cansford Labs. 24 April 2019. “Hair raising cases in hair testing: are ‘cocaine mummies’ real or fake?” in Cansford Laboratories. Available at: https://blog.cansfordlabs.co.uk/hair-testing-cocaine-mummies-real-or-fake

Darin, P. 13 November 2013. “Curious History: Ancient Egyptians May Have Traded With the New World” in The Epoch Times. Available at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/bright/curious-history-ancient-egyptians-may-have-traded-with-the-new-world-358318

Kearnet, M. V. 20 April 2019. “Cocaine Mummies & the search for narcotics in historic collections” in UCL. Available at: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/researchers-in-museums/2019/04/20/cocaine-mummies-the-search-for-narcotics-in-historic-collections/

Rhodes, J. 31 August 2009. “175 Years of the Smithsonian’s Most Untrue Stories” in Smithsonian Magazine. Available at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/urban-legends-about-the-smithsonian-135407460/

 

Comments

I wouldn't be surprised if seafarers were more widely traveled in antiquity, even crossing the Atlantic at its narrowest point between West Africa and South America, then sailing up or down the coast.

As for drugs use, I read Roman physicians knew about the pain-killing properties of opium. They would burn it and let soldiers inhale the smoke before their battle wounds were treated. It was unlikely to have been widely available but for these who received it it must truly have been a blessing.

And of course there is abundant evidence that tobacco & coca were grown in other parts of the world apart from S.America, isn't there? Oh, wait a minute .....

Plants of all kinds do not limit themselves to grow within human-defined borders. They grow anywhere that conditions are suitable for them. Plants that grow in one area today may have grown somewhere else last year. Plants can cross oceans with no help from humans. To transport plant seeds long-distance is the task of birds. There is no reason to believe that a plant that would thrive in south America would not also thrive in the general vicinity of Egypt. That a plant is extinct or missing from one particular place does not imply that it has not been there at some point in time.

"The flora and fauna shown in the artwork is thought to have existed _along_ _the_ _coasts_ of African and the Arabian Peninsula. These findings show that the ancient Egyptians could complete some _longer_ _oceanic_ voyages."

Costal navigation and oceanic navigation is not the same. A voyage along some coast is not at all the same discipline as crossing an ocean.You can not conclude that because some people could sail along a coastline they could also cross an ocean.

Frequently Asked Questions

Traces of cocaine were discovered in the remains of certain ancient Egyptian mummies, sparking intrigue and debate among historians. This controversial finding raised questions about potential transoceanic contact and cultural exchange in antiquity, challenging traditional narratives of ancient civilizations.

Traces of nicotine and cocaine were identified in the remains of some ancient Egyptian mummies. The presence of these substances, derived from plants native to the Americas, have been used to argue that there was transoceanic contact and cultural exchange in antiquity between ancient Egypt and the Americas.

Ancient Egyptians utilized a variety of substances for medicinal and recreational purposes, including opium, cannabis, and various herbal remedies. Evidence from archaeological findings and historical texts suggests a complex pharmacopoeia, reflecting the medical knowledge and cultural practices of ancient Egyptian society.

Joanna Gillan's picture

Joanna

Joanna Gillan is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. 

Joanna completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) degree in Australia and published research in the field of Educational Psychology. She has a rich and varied career, ranging from teaching... Read More

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