Adam Brumm identifies ancient Indonesian foragers as the earliest known evidence of habitual human drug use
Adam Brumm, an archaeologist at Griffith University, led a study identifying two prehistoric skeletons from the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. These remains, dated between 16,000 and 25,000 years ago, provide the earliest known evidence of habitual human drug use. Analysis of the individuals' teeth revealed deep, rounded grooves and traces of arecoline, a psychoactive compound found in betel nuts. The researchers determined that these foragers routinely sucked on the hard, abrasive nuts to numb their mouths, likely as a remedy for toothache. However, the study found that this habit caused significant dental wear, exposing the pulp and potentially creating a cycle of pain and dependence. This discovery predates the oldest known evidence of beer production, which occurred approximately 13,000 years ago. The findings demonstrate that humans were managing the effects of addiction and adverse health consequences of drug use long before the development of agriculture or the emergence of common psychoactive substances like alcohol and caffeine.
Sources
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Indonesian foragers may have sucked on mind-altering nuts 25,000 years ago, research finds
The Guardian
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Archaeologists Discover the World's Oldest Evidence of Habitual Drug Use in the Teeth of a Hunter-Gatherer Who Lived Up to 25,000 Years Ago
smithsonianmag.com