Ancient Mayans also smoked

Archaeologists have found traces of nicotine in an ancient Mayan vase.

They speculate that this is the old Mayan tobacco leaf container, dating back over 1,000 years. Decorated outside the vase is a line of 'Yo-OTOT-ti' u-MAY ' , translated into modern language meaning ' The House of Tobacco ' , archaeologists revealed on LiveScience. However, if that was the case, it would not be enough to convince them that the Mayans had ever smoked real cigarettes.

Inside the vase contains traces of nicotine.

'The words may be a sign, however, perhaps at the last minute, the vase was used for another purpose,' said Jennifer Loughmiller-Newman, an expert at Albany University. Therefore, they analyzed the samples extracted from the vase and realized that it was nicotine, the active ingredient of tobacco.

Ms. Jennifer said the vase was crafted in southern Campeche, Mexico. This is one of 150 ceramic items belonging to the Kislak Library of Congress Library. Although many other Maya vases in the collection have been oxidized over time, using high-tech chemical analyzers, researchers still detect what they used to contain.

'Our research has provided rare, existent evidence for the use of clear-purpose containers of ancient people, which in this case is cigarettes,' Dmitri Zagorevki said. Previously, his team also found a box that the text printed on the box and chemical analysis later showed it was produced to contain theobromine, the main active ingredient of cocoa.

'These are particularly useful findings to study ancient customs and life, as well as to understand and interpret Mayan legends or prophecies , ' the researchers said.