El hallazgo de pipas en contextos fúnebres del litoral del Desierto de Atacama hace más de un siglo, ha sido la base para sugerir que los grupos de Pescadores, cazadores y recolectores marinos tuvieron como costumbre fumar durante el período Formativo (1500 a.C-1000 cal d.C). Lo que seguía siendo una incógnita es qué estaban fumando y de dónde provenían las sustancias consumidas. En la búsqueda de dar solución a este problema, presentamos el análisis de los residuos adheridos de cuatro pipas de piedra en forma de T invertida, recuperadas de un cementerio de la costa del Desierto de Atacama al norte de Chile, usando dos metodologías complementarias derivadas de la arqueobotánica y la química. Paralelamente, realizamos un análisis químico sobre cabello humano perteneciente a un individuo asociado a una de las pipas. Se logró identificar, al interior de éstas, la presencia de nicotina y otras sustancias, tales como microrrestos de Nicotiana y de otras especies, además de nicotina, en el cabello muestreado. Finalmente, discutimos estos resultados en función de la disponibilidad defuentes de estos recursos, estrategias de movilidad, relaciones de intercambio y el modo de vida de las poblaciones litorales.

Snuff trays are conspicuous objects that are found in archaeological contexts throughout Andean South America. At San Pedro de Atacama, in northern Chile, snuff trays that exhibit iconographic motifs similar to those found on Tiwanaku megalithic monuments have been assigned to the Tiwanaku style. In the present work, we propose a new definition for this style based on the occurrence of three morphological features: an overall trapezoidal shape, incurving sides, and sharp top corners. This group includes trays with iconography from the previously defined Tiwanaku style, as well as other trays without iconography. Principal component analysis shows that Tiwanaku-style trays with and without iconography make up a single group that is significantly different from plain, largely rectangular San Pedro-style trays. The relative proportion of Tiwanaku-style trays with and without iconography does not differ between cultural periods and archaeological sites. The results point to shape as an important trait for assigning trays to styles. Furthermore, the results show that during the Middle period four main types of snuff trays were in use: Tiwanaku trays with and without iconography and local San Pedro trays, also with and without iconography. We explore the possible social implications of this co-occurrence of styles.

Dactylopius coccus has been used in Mexico and Peru as a source of natural dyes since pre-Columbian times. A phylogenetic analysis of the genus Dactylopius, and the disjoint distribution of D. coccus, suggest that the origin of D. coccus is South America and was introduced into North America by sea routes.