title: Cocaine metabolites in pre-Columbian mummy hair.
abstract: Chewing of coca leaves was an integral part of many Andean pre-Columbian populations. Since the cocaine metabolite benzoylecognine is entrapped in hair of the user, this could serve as a convenient specimen for analysis. We tested the scalp hair of 8 Chilean mummies with dates ranging from 2,000 BC to 1,500 AD. This article reports that benzoylecognine is very stable and can be found in mummy hair.
authors.affiliation: Valley View Regional Hospital, Ada.
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Cartmell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aufderhide
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weems
mesh_terms: D002677:Chile; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis*; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D009106:Mummies; D010568:Peru
chemical_list: C005618:benzoylecgonine; D003042:Cocaine