c. 700 CEPeer-reviewed · 2 sourcesWell documented
The Maya and Sacred Tobacco
On the timeline · around c. 700 CE ·
What happened
The Maya used tobacco in ceremony, medicine and daily life. Chemical analysis of a Late Classic Maya flask from Mexico detected nicotine residue, directly confirming tobacco use around 700 CE.
Why it matters
It is some of the hardest scientific evidence for ancient tobacco use, showing how deeply the plant was woven into Mesoamerican culture.
Sources
Related timelines
- The Maya Civilization → — Tobacco was sacred to the Maya