Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c47g7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T09:16:43.765Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Rameses II and the tobacco beetle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

P. C. Buckland  and
E. Panagiotakopulu
P. C. Buckland
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology & Prehistory, University of Sheffield, Northgate House, West Street, Sheffield S1 4ET, England
E. Panagiotakopulu
Affiliation:
School of Geography & Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, England
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The use of a wide range of narcotic drugs in antiquity has been widely documented, although archaeologists have sometimes been too credulous of apparently scientific data, and have failed to appreciate the post-excavation histories of artefacts, including mummies. This paper examines the discovery of tobacco in the mummy of Rameses II, provides an alternative model for its origin, as a 19th-century insecticide used in conservation, and throws doubt upon the evidence for both cannabis and cocaine in ancient Egypt.

Keywords

Egyptnarcoticsinsecticidepost-excavation contamination
Type
Papers
Information
Antiquity , Volume 75 , Issue 289 , September 2001 , pp. 549 - 556
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alfieri, A. 1931. Les insectes de la tombe de Toutankhamon, Bulletin de la Société Royale Entomologique d’Egypte 3/4: 188–9.Google Scholar
Alfieri, A. 1976. The Coleóptera of Egypt. Cairo: Atlas Press.Google Scholar
Anon, . 1978. Tobacco in Egypt, Anthropological Journal of Canada 16: 10.Google Scholar
Anon, . 2000. The mystery of the cocaine mummies. Schaffer library of drug policy. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Misc/mummies.litm Google Scholar
Balabanova, S., Boyuan, Wei & Kramer, M.. 1995. First detection of nicotine in ancient population of southern China, Homo 46: 68–75.Google Scholar
Balabanova, S., Parsche, F., Bohler, G. & Pirsig, W.. 1993. Was nicotine known in Ancient Egypt?, Homo 44: 92–4.Google Scholar
Balabanova, S., Parsche, F. & Pirsig, W.. 1992. First identification of drugs in Egyptian mummies, Naturwissenschaften 79: 358.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Balabanova, S., Rösing, F.W., BüHler, G., Schoetz, W., Scherer, G. & Rosenthal, J.. 1997. Nicotine and cotinine in prehistoric and recent bones from Africa and Europe and the origin of these alkaloids, Homo 48: 72–7.Google Scholar
Balout, L. & Roubet, C. (ed.) 1985. La Momie de Ramsés II. Contribution scientifique a VEgyptologie. Paris: Editions Recherches sur les Civilisations, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle & Musée de l’Homme.Google Scholar
Boulos, L. & El-Hadidi, M.N. 1984. The weed flora of Egypt. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press.Google Scholar
Brothwell, D. & Spigelman, M.. 1993. Drugs in ancient populations, Lancet 341: 1157.Google Scholar
Cartmell, L.W., Aufderheide, A.C., Springfield, A., Weems, C. & Arriaza, B.. 1991. The frequency and antiquity of prehistoric coca-leaf-chewing practices in northern Chile: radio-immunoassay of a cocaine metabolite in human-mummy hair, Latin American Antiquity 2: 260–68.Google Scholar
Castello, M. 1983. L’affaire Ramses II, Science et Avenir AAV. 38–42.Google Scholar
Ceram, C.W. 1967. Gods, graves and scholars, the story of archaeology. London: Victor Gollancz.Google Scholar
Cockburn, A.R.A. Barraco, T.A. Reyman & Peck, W.H.. 1975. Autopsy of an Egyptian mummy, Science 187: 1155–60.Google Scholar
Conrad, C. 1994. Hemp: lifeline to the future. Los Angeles (CA): Creative Xpressions.Google Scholar
David, A.R. 1992. Plants and plant products used in mummification, in Nigg, H.N. & Seigler, D. (ed.) Phytochemica] resources for medicine and agriculture: 15–31. New York (NY): Plenum Press. 2000. Mummification, in Nicholson & Shaw 372–89.Google Scholar
Dawson, W.R. & Uphill, E.P. (rev. M.I. Bierbrier). 1995. Who was who in Egyptology. London: Egvpt Exploration Society.Google Scholar
Emboden, W. 1989. The sacred journey in dynastic Egypt: sha-manistic trance in the context of the narcotic water lily and mandrake, fournal of Psychoactive Drugs 21: 61–75.Google Scholar
Essig, E.O. 1931. A history of entomology. New York (NY): Macmillan.Google Scholar
Fabricius, O. 1798. Entomologìa Systematica 1.Google Scholar
Florian, M.-L. 1997. Heritage eaters: insects and fungi in heritage collections. London: James & James.Google Scholar
Germer, R. 1985. Flora des pharaonischen Ágypten. Mainz am Rhein: Philipp von Zabern/Deutehes Archáologisches Institut, Cairo.Google Scholar
Gilberg, M. & Roach, A.. 1991. The use of commercial pheromone traps for monitoring Lasioderma serricorne infestations in museum collections, Studies in conservation 36: 243–7.Google Scholar
Goodman, J., Lovejoy, R.E & Sherratt, A. (ed.). 1995. Consuming habits. Drugs in history and anthropology. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Goonspeed, T.H. 1954. The genus Nicotiana. Waltham (MA): Chronica Botanica Co. Chronica Botanica 16.Google Scholar
Hall, A.R. & Kenward, H.K. 1990. Environmental evidence from the Colonia. London: Council for British Archaeology for York Archaeological Trust. Archaeology of York 14/6.Google Scholar
Hepper, F.N. 1981. Plant material, in Martin, G.T., The Sacred Animal Necropolis at North Saqqâra. The southern dependences of the main temple complex: 146–51. London: Egypt Exploration Society.Google Scholar
Hepper, F.N. 1990. Pharaoh’s flowers. The botanical treasures of Tutankhamun. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Herodotus (A.D. Godley trans. 1938). Histories. London: Heinemann. Loeb Text.Google Scholar
Hill, D.S. 1994. Agricultural entomology. Portland (OR): Tim-her Press.Google Scholar
Hlnton, H.E. 1945. A monograph of the beetles associated with stored products 1. London: British Museum N.H.Google Scholar
Hope, F.W. 1836. Notice of several species of insects found in the heads of Egyptian mummies, Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1: 11–13.Google Scholar
Huchet, J.-B. 1995. Insectes et momies égyptiennes. Bulletin de la Société linnéenne de Bordeaux 23: 29–39.Google Scholar
Ikram, S. & DODSON, A.. 1997. Royal mummies in the Cairo Museum. Cairo: American University Press.Google Scholar
Jacobs, W. 2000. Toke like an Egyptian, Fortean Times 117.Google Scholar
Klncsolver, J.M. 1991. Adult beetles (Coleóptera), in Gorharn, J.R. (ed.), Insect and mite pests in food: an illustrated key. Washington (DC): US Department of Agriculture. Agriculture Handbook 655.Google Scholar
Kitchen, K.A. 1982. Pharaoh triumphant: the life and times of Rameses II King of Egypt. Warminster: Aris & Phillips.Google Scholar
Kloche, J.A. 1989. Plant compounds as sources and models of insect-control agents, in Wagner, H., Hikino, H. & Farnsworth, N.R. (ed.), Economic and medicinal plant research 3: 104–44.Google Scholar
Köllar, V. 1840. A treatise on insects injurious to gardeners, foresters &¦ farmers. London: William Smith. (Trans. J. & Loudon, M..)Google Scholar
Layer-Lescot, M. 1985. Feuilles et fleurs, in Balout & Roubet (ed.): 182–91.Google Scholar
Leroi-Gourhan, A. 1985. Les pollens et l’embaumement, in Balout & Roubet (ed.): 192–3.Google Scholar
Lesne, P. 1930. Le Dermeste des cadavres Dermestes frischi (Kug.) dans les tombes de l’Egypte ancienne, Bulletin de la Société entomologique d’Egypte (N.S.) 14: 21–4.Google Scholar
Merxmöller, H. & Buttler, K.P. 1975. Nicotiana in der afrikanischen Namib – ein pflanzengeographisches und phylogenetisches Ratsel, Mitteilungen botanischen München 12: 91–104.Google Scholar
Moore, N. 1993. Drugs in ancient populations, Lancet 341: 1157.Google Scholar
Motschijlsky, V. 1839. Coléoptères du Caucase et des Provinces transcaspiennes: II. Bulletin Société imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou 1: 68–93.Google Scholar
Nathanson, J.A., Hunnicijtt, E.J., Kantham, L. & Scavone, C.. 1993. Cocaine as a naturally occurring insecticide, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences {USA) 90: 9645–8.Google Scholar
Nehi, S.H. 1998. Der grafie und der kleine Brugsch, Problème/ Projekte/Prozesse (1998): 45–52.Google Scholar
Nicholson, P.T. & Shaw, I.. 2000. Ancient Egyptian materials and technology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Panagiotakopiilu, E. 2000. Archaeology and entomology in the eastern Mediterranean. Research into the history of insect synanthropy in Greece and Egypt. Oxford: Archaeopress. BAR International series 836.Google Scholar
Panagiotakopiilu, E. In press. New records for ancient pests: archaeoentomology in Egypt, fournal of Archaeological Science.Google Scholar
Panaciotakopulu, E., Buckland, P.C., Day, P., Sarpaki, A. & Doumas, C.. 1995. Natural insecticides and insect repellents in antiquity: a review of the evidence. Journal of Archaeological Science 22: 705–10.Google Scholar
Paris, R.R. & Dkapier, D. -Laprade. 1985. Présence de nicotine dans la cavité, in Balout & Roubet (ed.): 196–7.Google Scholar
Parsche, F. 1993. Author’s reply. Drugs in ancient populations, Lancet 341: 1157.Google Scholar
Parsche, F., Balabanova, S. & Pirsig, W.. 1993. Drugs in ancient populations, Lancet 341: 503.Google Scholar
Parsche, F. & Nerlich, A.. 1995. Presence of drugs in different tissues of an Egyptian mummy, Fresenius lournal of Analytical Chemistry 352: 380–84.Google Scholar
Peacock, E.R. 1993. Adults and larvae of hide, larder and carpet beetles and their relatives (Coleóptera: Dermestidael and of Derodontid Beetles (Coleóptera: Derodontidaef London: Royal Entomological Societv of London. Handbooks for the identification of British insects 5,3.Google Scholar
Reed, W.D. & Vinzand, J.P. 1942. Control of insects attacking stored tobacco and tobacco products. US Department of Agriculture Circular 635.Google Scholar
Reyman, T.A. & Peck, W.H. 1998. Histological examination. Autopsy, in Reyman, T.A. & Peck, W.H. Egyptian mummification with evisceration per ano, in Cockburn, A. & Cockburn, E. (ed.), Mummies, disease and ancient culture: 110–11; 114. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Riddle, J.M. & Vreeland, J.M., Jr 1982. Identification of insects associated with Peruvian mummy bundles by using scanning electron microscopy, Paleopathology Newsletter 39: 5–9.Google Scholar
Rodham, F. 1985. Étude entomologique de prélèvement, in Balout & Roubet (ed.): 106–7.Google Scholar
Schivelbusch, W. 1993. Tastes of paradise. A social history of spices, stimulants and intoxicants. New York (NY): Vintage Books.Google Scholar
Seifert, P. 1987. Die Kãfer aus der Mumie, in Boessneck, J., Die Miinchner Ochsenrrmmie, Hildersheimer agyptologie 25: 73–8.Google Scholar
Sharma, B.K. & Basandrai, A.K. 1999. Efficacy of some plant extracts for the management of Karnal bunt (Neovossia {Tilletia} indica) of wheat {Triticum aestivum), Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 69: 837–9.Google Scholar
Shaw, I. & Nicholson, P.T. 1995. British Museum dictionary of Ancient Egypt. London: British Museum.Google Scholar
Sherratt, A. 1994. Alice in Wonderland. Oxford Magazine 110: 8–10.Google Scholar
Sherratt, A. 1995. Alcohol and its alternatives. Symbol and substance in pre-industrial societies, in Goodman ef al. (ed.): 11–46.Google Scholar
Slosson, A.T. 1903. A coleopterous conundrum, Canadian Entomologist 35: 183–9.Google Scholar
Steffan, J.-R. 1982. L’Entomofaune de la momie de Ramsés II, Annales de la Société entomologique de France 18: 531–4.Google Scholar
Steffan, J.-R. 1985. L’Entomofaune de la momie, in Balout & Roubet (ed.): 108–15.Google Scholar
Strong, L. 1981. Dermestids – an embalmer’s dilemma, Antenna 5: 136–9.Google Scholar
Sumach, A. 2000. Archaeological enigmas from Egypt, http://cannabisculture.com/magazine/cc09/smokesignals/enig-mas/ Google Scholar
Vogelsang-Eastwood, G. 2000. Textiles, in Nicholson & Shaw (2000): 268–98.Google Scholar
Von Gernet, A. 1995. Nicotian dreams: the prehistory and early history of tobacco in eastern North America, in Goodman et al. (ed.): 67–87.Google Scholar