Abstract

Our research focuses on identifying alkaloids in dental calculus from hunter-gatherer populations along the desert coast of Antofagasta, aiming to understand the smoking practices of these groups. Samples were considered from the Archaic to the Late Intermediate periods, covering various areas of the study region, from the mouth of the Loa River to the south of Taltal. The study seeks to analyze a new type of sample in the study area, as previous research has only focused on hair. Additionally, the applied technique, MALDI-TOF, is innovative for detecting alkaloids in this kind of sample. Nevertheless, the results suggest a likely use of Nicotiana along the Antofagasta coast in samples from the Archaic and Formative periods. In light of these results, we propose further analyses to confirm the detections made, in order to establish the findings conclusively, as well as the impact and use of smoking practices among hunter-gatherer groups on the coast of Antofagasta.