Scientists have found evidence suggesting humans used psychoactive substances as far back as 25,000 years ago.
The discovery comes from prehistoric hunter-gatherers who lived on Sulawesi island in Indonesia. Researchers examined ancient teeth and found evidence linked to repeated consumption of betel nuts.
The findings could represent the oldest direct evidence of habitual psychoactive plant use among humans.
The discovery also suggests Drug use existed long before agriculture, cities and written language developed.
Ancient Teeth Reveal Unusual Marks
Scientists studied the teeth of two prehistoric individuals who lived thousands of years apart.
The older individual lived between 16,000 and 25,000 years ago. The second individual lived approximately 6,300 to 7,600 years ago.
Researchers discovered unusually deep and rounded grooves on their teeth. They believe these marks developed through repeatedly holding and sucking hard, round objects.
Further scientific analysis provided another important clue about what those objects may have been. Researchers detected arecoline, the main psychoactive compound associated with betel nuts.
This evidence led researchers to connect the unusual dental marks with repeated betel nut consumption.
Scientists Test Betel Nuts
The research team conducted additional experiments to examine its theory. Scientists soaked whole betel nuts in artificial saliva.
They found that sucking the nuts could release arecoline. The compound can interact with receptors in the human brain and produce psychoactive effects.
Betel nuts can cause mild euphoria and increased alertness. They can also create numbness inside the mouth.
These effects could explain why prehistoric humans repeatedly consumed the substance.
The discovery provides new insight into ancient Drug use and human relationships with psychoactive plants.
Betel Nuts May Have Been Used for Tooth Pain
Researchers also identified serious dental problems in both prehistoric individuals.
This has raised the possibility that betel nuts were consumed to reduce tooth pain. Their numbing effects may have provided temporary relief from dental discomfort.
However, repeatedly sucking hard betel nuts could also damage teeth. Researchers believe this may have created a difficult cycle for ancient users.
The habit could damage teeth while the psychoactive effects provided temporary relief from resulting discomfort.
However, the exact reasons for their consumption remain uncertain.
Evidence Pushes Psychoactive Plant Use Further Back
The findings were published in the scientific journal Science Advances.
According to the research, the discovery pushes direct evidence of habitual psychoactive plant consumption much further into human history.
It suggests prehistoric hunter-gatherers interacted with mind-altering plants thousands of years before modern civilizations emerged.
Betel nut consumption has also survived into the modern era.
It remains widely consumed and is among the world’s commonly used psychoactive substances.
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The new findings therefore offer researchers another window into the long history of human Drug use and psychoactive plant consumption.
