Excavations at the Tambo Viejo site in Peru have revealed coca leaves preserved in the wool of sacrificial llamas, offering new insight into Inka ritual practices.

Archaeologists excavating the Inka provincial center of Tambo Viejo in Peru's Acarí Valley have discovered coca leaves stuck to the wool of sacrificed llamas. The find, published in the journal Ñawpa Pacha, provides the first direct evidence of coca being used in a ritual at the site. This discovery challenges historical accounts from Spanish chroniclers, who previously suggested that coca was only burned or bundled during such ceremonies.

Ritual findings at Tambo Viejo

The discovery occurred in 2024 during the excavation of Structure 4, where researchers found nine young llamas adorned with tassels and painted markings. Three of these animals had coca leaves embedded in their wool. The ritual sequence involved covering the llamas with river sand, placing four guinea pigs on top, and lighting a fire before sealing the area with a clay floor. Radiocarbon dating indicates these offerings were made between A.D. 1450 and 1500.

Challenging historical records

Because the Inka did not leave written records, modern understanding of their rituals has largely relied on secondhand accounts from Spanish chroniclers. These historical texts claimed coca was burned or bundled, but the physical evidence at Tambo Viejo suggests a different practice. Lidio Valdez, an archaeologist at the University of Calgary, suggests that the Spanish may have never witnessed these ceremonies firsthand and were likely not told the full details by the Inka.