Pre-Hispanic Periods and Diet Analysis of the Inhabitants of the Quito Plateau (Ecuador): A Review

A review of pre-Hispanic dietary practices and potential toxic exposures in the Quito plateau reveals that inhabitants relied on a diverse range of flora and fauna, including corn, potatoes, quinoa, beans, chili, oca, rabbit, guinea pig, deer, guanta, and llama. The study identifies possible exposure to glycoalkaloids (α-solanine and α-chaconine), tropane alkaloids, and heavy metals through contaminated foods. It also highlights the feasibility of analyzing biomolecules in archaeological remains using advanced spectroscopic methods, supported by quantum chemistry, which could predict past molecular occurrences with small sample sizes.

Ordoñez-Araque, R., Ruales, J., Vargas-Jentzsch, P., Ramos-Guerrero, L., Romero-Bastidas, M., Montalvo-Puente, C., & Serrano-Ayala, S. (2022). Pre-Hispanic Periods and Diet Analysis of the Inhabitants of the Quito Plateau (Ecuador): A Review. Heritage, 5(4), 3446–3462. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5040177