[Aztlan] re: Tobacco in Enema?

[Mike McBride]

Hola Justin, Nick, y listeros,

Justin: I think the right-most image in K6271 is
pretty clear evidence of the intended use of its
contents. Thanks for posting the image, really
interesting.
Also, as we discussed in Austin, maybe we should
reconsider the 4 "old gods" scene on K530. I suggested
that the lower right god is actually applying tobacco
or some other ritual agent out of the small pot,
rather than makeup. The 3 others all have an "alcohol"
vessel in from front of them, and 2 of the 3 have an
enema clyster on the vase in front of them, so
something pharmacological is going on. 
Not sure I've seen the Calakmul scene that Simon
described as oral tobacco application, but K3460 seems
pretty clear about some type of tobacco(?)
administration. Interesting that the shape of that
small vessel is the same as the narrow necked "alcohol
vases" that you have described.
Also interesting is the animal figure at lower center.
Appears to be leaning against & reaching into a large
"alcohol" pot with a prepared/used clyster in his
right hand. Brings to mind part of the scene on K1381.

Nick: interestingly, it was at the memorial service
for Linda at her and David's house that Katherine
shared with me some of her thoughts about ancient Maya
ritual drug use.  She said to always remember that
alcoholic mixtures were the basis of most or all
ritual preparations. Makes sense - alcoholic
preparations are easy to prepare and universally used.
That pearl is one that I have applied to most of my
ethnopharmacological studies since. 

I have thought for a long time that not only were
alcoholic preparations used to facilitate most ritual
settings, but there were probably "drugs of choice"
added to those preparations, depending on the
event/ritual to be performed. The psychoactive
alkaloids in tobacco, as well as many other
pharmacologically active ingredients in plants/animals
are easily dispersed in alcohol based liquids. 
Additionally, it is a well documented physiological
principal that the vast majority of drugs applied by
enema are absorbed quickly with profoundly more
intense activity. 

Sadly, direct evidence of any admixtures seems lacking
from ceramic vessels from archaeological context; i.e.
lab analysis of dry or liquid sampling extracted from
the inner surfaces of those vessels. I am aware of
some proposed studies, but have not seen any results
published.  I'd be grateful for any citations of those
type results.

Mike




 
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