A lost 1619 peyote document links early colonial records to Indigenous ritual use and the long history of mescaline-containing cactus in New Spain

A 1619 peyote document reconnects early colonial history with Indigenous ceremonial use of the cactus in New Spain. The material centers on a rediscovered or little-known archival source that helps trace how peyote was recognized, recorded, and contested during the colonial period. Indigenous ritual practice stands at the core of the history, while Spanish authorities and church institutions form the surrounding context of surveillance, classification, and suppression. The source matters because it can sharpen the timeline of documented peyote use, clarify who was using it and in what settings, and show how colonial observers interpreted a psychoactive plant embedded in local spiritual life. Peyote's significance extends beyond antiquarian interest. Early records like this shape current debates about cultural continuity, religious legitimacy, and the deep historical roots of mescaline-containing cactus use in the Americas.