New insights into the usage of the psychoactive substance vilca have emerged from research focused on the Chavín culture, which thrived in the Central Andes over 3,000 years ago. According to archaeologist Contreras, while the examples from Wari and Tiwanaku are approximately 1,000 years more recent, the findings underscore the possibility of varying applications of vilca among different cultures and time periods.
Contreras remarked to Ars, “We cannot assume that this is the sole context for vilca usage at Chavín; it is evident that it was employed within a specific, restricted-access setting. However, vilca, along with other substances like food and chicha, may have also played a role in more communal settings where social ties were fostered.” He noted that community activities, such as harvest gatherings and canal cleaning, continue to be significant in rural regions of the Andes and beyond, including the United States.
He further speculated that such communal practices were likely integral to life at Chavín. However, he emphasized that certain rituals probably demanded a unique set of conditions, location, and specific knowledge related to the procurement and preparation of ingredients.
This discovery carries wider significance, particularly as Chavín represents a pivotal point in societal evolution. “Between 500 and 1,000 years following the Chavín era, there emerged sedentary communities engaged in agriculture and collective architectural initiatives. These settlements have structures reminiscent of Chavín, notably the platform mounds arranged around plazas,” Contreras explained. “Nevertheless, evidence for substantial social inequality and craft specialization remains scarce compared to what we observe at Chavín.”
Contreras continued, “In the millennium that followed Chavín, urban centers expanded considerably, and numerous Andean civilizations, such as the Moche, exhibited pronounced social hierarchies. By this time, social, political, and economic disparities had become commonplace.” He noted that while Chavín is not the only archaeological site documenting this evolution, it offers a compelling venue for exploring this significant transition.
PNAS, 2025. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2425125122 (About DOIs).
