Analysis of skeletal remains from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi has revealed what researchers believe may be the earliest known evidence of human consumption of mind-altering substances. Two pre-agricultural forager skeletons, one approximately 7,000 years old and another dated between 16,000 and 25,000 years old, displayed distinctive patterns of tooth wear consistent with regular nut-sucking behavior.
Both individuals exhibited deep, rounded grooves in their teeth, some severe enough to expose the dental pulp beneath the enamel. Researchers theorized that these patterns resulted from repeatedly holding hard, abrasive objects in the mouth over extended periods. The team hypothesized that the foragers were sucking on betel nuts, seeds from the Areca catechu palm that possess psychoactive properties. Testing conducted by soaking betel nuts in artificial saliva confirmed the presence of arecoline, a psychoactive compound, in sufficient quantities to produce effects.
Betel nuts rank as the world’s fourth most widely consumed psychoactive substance globally, used by an estimated tenth of the population, particularly throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The modern practice typically involves chewing nuts mixed with slaked lime to intensify the psychoactive effects. However, the ancient foragers appear to have simply sucked on the nuts in their raw form, which would have produced a milder effect but still induced numbness and other sensations.
Researchers suggest the practice may have initially served as a traditional remedy for toothache, though the irony is that prolonged nut-sucking ultimately caused severe dental damage that likely created worse pain over time. The findings represent direct archaeological evidence of psychoactive substance use predating previously documented drug traditions, which were thought to have emerged around 13,000 years ago with fermented beverages. Experts have noted the significance of demonstrating that betel nut consumption represents a millennia-old tradition with roots extending into prehistoric times.
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