Mind-altering drugs played key role in rise of Andean civilization

CHAVÍN DE HUÁNTAR, PERU—The subterranean corridor was lit only by eerie light that filtered down narrow ventilation shafts and reflected from polished stone. Priests huffed on decorated conch shell trumpets, sending deep blasts echoing against the cut stone walls of the narrow gallery. Using a bone tube, an attendant blew a powerful psychoactive snuff up the nose of a pilgrim, launching the recipi...