How has new research changed our understanding of tobacco use among indigenous communities in North America?

Recent biomolecular research, specifically the analysis of residues in ancient smoking pipes, has revealed that indigenous communities in the North American Plateau had long-standing traditions of smoking wild tobaccos like Nicotiana quadrivalvis and Nicotiana attenuata well before Euro-American contact. This challenges the previous belief that domesticated Nicotiana tabacum was introduced by traders.

What specific scientific methods were used to uncover the evidence of ancient tobacco use, and where was this evidence found?

Researchers used ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze residues from ancient smoking pipes, identifying nicotine as a key biomarker. The presence of nicotine in pipes dating back 1200 years indicates continuous tobacco use. The pipes were recovered from five sites in the Columbia River Basin in southeastern Washington State.

Does this discovery mean that plants like kinnikinnick were not used by native communities?

The research contradicts ethnohistorical accounts suggesting kinnikinnick, or bearberry, was the primary pre-contact smoke plant in the study area. While kinnikinnick might have been smoked, the absence of its residue in the analyzed pipes indicates that tobacco, particularly indigenous species like Nicotiana quadrivalvis and Nicotiana attenuata, was more prevalent in these specific smoking practices. It is possible that current methodologies are unable to detect kinnikinnick.

Why is it important to understand the history of indigenous tobacco use when addressing health issues in Tribal communities today?

This discovery has significant implications for understanding indigenous practices and health. It demonstrates that the ancestral Nez Perce and other communities had sophisticated systems for managing and cultivating wild tobaccos. Recognizing these deep-rooted traditions is crucial for addressing commercial tobacco addiction within Tribal communities, allowing for more culturally sensitive and effective health initiatives. Understanding that Nicotiana tabacum isn't the sole source of tobacco consumption by the ancestral communities, allows health strategies to be more effective.

What makes this discovery of ancient tobacco use so significant on a global scale, compared to what we know from other regions?

This research presents the longest continuous biomolecular record of ancient tobacco smoking from a single region worldwide. It provides concrete evidence of tobacco use over a 1200-year period, adding depth to the understanding of indigenous cultures and their relationship with native plants. The absence of similar data from other regions highlights the uniqueness of this discovery, and importance of continued research.

Ancient stone pipes emitting smoke, revealing indigenous history.

Ancient Smoke Signals: Rewriting the History of Tobacco Use in North America

Lena Kashyap in Science & Nature December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Archaeological discoveries challenge the narrative of tobacco as a post-colonial import, revealing deep-rooted indigenous smoking practices."

For centuries, the story of tobacco in North America has been largely framed by European contact, with domesticated tobacco seen as a trade commodity introduced to indigenous communities. But what if that wasn't the whole story? What if the history of tobacco use stretched back much further, deeply entwined with the lives and cultures of native peoples?

Groundbreaking research is rewriting this narrative. By analyzing residues found in ancient stone smoking pipes, scientists have uncovered evidence of significant, direct biomolecular records of ancient tobacco (Nicotiana) smoking practices in the North American interior northwest (Plateau). This region, often portrayed as adopting tobacco only after Euro-American contact, now reveals a much richer and more complex history.

This article explores these exciting discoveries, revealing how hunting and gathering communities, including ancestral Nez Perce peoples, established sophisticated tobacco smoking traditions using wild, indigenous tobaccos long before the arrival of trade tobacco. Get ready to delve into the intriguing world of biomolecular archaeology and uncover a hidden chapter in North American history.

Unearthing the Evidence: What the Pipes Reveal About Ancient Tobacco Use

Ancient stone pipes emitting smoke, revealing indigenous history.

The key to unlocking this hidden history lies within the residues found inside ancient smoking pipes. Using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, researchers identified nicotine, a key biomarker for tobacco, in 8 out of 12 analyzed pipes and pipe fragments. These artifacts, recovered from five sites in the Columbia River Basin, southeastern Washington State, date back as far as 1200 years ago, providing a clear timeline of continuous tobacco use.

These findings have significant implications, challenging the notion that tobacco was solely a post-contact trade item in this region. The biomolecular evidence demonstrates a deep-rooted tradition of smoking indigenous tobaccos, specifically Nicotiana quadrivalvis and Nicotiana attenuata, well before the introduction of the domesticated Nicotiana tabacum by European traders and settlers after the 1790s.

Longest Continuous Record: This research represents the longest continuous biomolecular record of ancient tobacco smoking from a single region worldwide.
Challenging Ethnohistory: The findings contradict some ethnohistorical accounts that suggested kinnikinnick, or bearberry, was the primary precontact smoke plant in the study area.
Indigenous Tobacco Management: Early use likely involved the management and cultivation of indigenous tobaccos.

While pipes are concrete archaeological evidence, its not definitive: up to 100 other species were also smoked within pipes during the post contact era. The absence of kinnikinnick, however, suggests that it wasn't being smoked in these pipes. It could be that the plant was smoked, but undetectable through current methodology, or the sample sizes where to small to definitively capture this smoking method.

Why This Matters: Reclaiming Indigenous History and Health

This research not only rewrites the history of tobacco use in North America but also has significant implications for contemporary health initiatives. By understanding the deep-rooted traditions of indigenous tobacco use, we can better address the challenges of commercial tobacco addiction within Tribal communities.

The study emphasizes the sacred nature of tobacco smoking and the importance of renewing indigenous tobaccos like Nicotiana quadrivalvis and Nicotiana attenuata over commercial cigarettes and trade tobacco. This renewed focus on traditional practices can empower Tribal programs to combat persistent commercial tobacco use rates and promote healthier lifestyles.

As we move forward, further research exploring a wider range of smoke plants will undoubtedly shed more light on the complex tapestry of ancient smoking practices. These discoveries will continue to deepen our understanding of the coevolutionary relationship between humans and tobacco, honoring the rich history and traditions of indigenous communities.