Hallucinogenic snuff from northwestern Argentina: Microscopical identification of Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Fabaceae) in powdered archaeological material

Two mummified bodies have been recovered from the Alero I or La Matanza sit e (15 km from Cusi-Cusi, Dpto. Santa Catalina, Puna of Jujuy, Argentina) in association with characteristic snuffing paraphernalia. The purpose of thi s work is to identify the powdered material contained in one of the tubes i n order to confirm the hypothesis generated from ethnographical sources, th at the rape (snuff) complex was associated with the consumption of Anadenan thera coiubrina var. cebil, Fabaceae, the cebil, or, if not, which material s were inhaled: Following analysis with a light microscope, petrographic mi croscope and scanning electron microscope the unknown material was identifi ed as cebil by comparison with reference material and specialized literatur e.