Drug use may have begun 25,000 years ago, new research finds

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1. 4d ago

   Ancient Teeth Reveal Ice Age Drug Use in Indonesia

   Researchers analyzing ancient teeth discovered in Indonesia have uncovered the earliest known evidence of habitual drug use, dating back up to 25,000 years. Scientists found traces of arecoline, indicating that prehistoric foragers chewed or sucked on psychoactive areca nuts during the Ice Age. This discovery pushes back the timeline of human drug use significantly further than previous records showed, pointing to deep roots in ancient stimulant consumption.

   Why it matters

   The find indicates that human experimentation with mind-altering substances extends much deeper into prehistory than previously understood. Areca nuts rank among the most common addictive substances used globally today, and tracing their consumption back to hunter-gatherers sheds light on ancient dietary and cultural habits. Archaeologists from Griffith University led the research effort, revealing insights into how early modern humans interacted with native flora.

   What is confirmed

   • Scientists discovered the earliest evidence of drug use in ancient teeth from Indonesia, dating back up to 25,000 years.
   • The teeth contained traces of arecoline, suggesting prehistoric foragers consumed psychoactive areca nuts.
   • Archaeologists from Griffith University uncovered the evidence regarding these mind-altering substances.

   What to watch next

   • Further chemical analysis of other ancient dental remains from the region to find additional evidence of early drug habits.
   Sources used for this update (11)

   1. The New York Times — Scientists Discover the Earliest Evidence of Drug Use in Really Old Teeth
   2. The Guardian — Indonesian foragers may have sucked on mind-altering nuts 25,000 years ago, research finds
   3. New Scientist — Earliest evidence of habitual drug use found in teeth in Indonesia
   4. Phys.org — Ice Age origins of one of humanity's oldest drug habits discovered
   5. The Conversation — Ancient teeth reveal the Ice Age origins of the world’s 4th most common addictive drug
   6. BBC — Drug use may have begun 25,000 years ago, new research finds
   7. Popular Science — Humans experimented with drugs 23,000 years earlier than we thought
   8. Science Daily — Ancient teeth reveal humans were getting high 25,000 years ago
   9. Smithsonian Magazine — 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
   10. hightimes.com — Prehistoric High: 25,000-Year-Old Teeth May Hold the Oldest Evidence of Psychoactive Drug Use
   11. news.ssbcrack.com — Ancient Evidence Suggests Humans Used Psychoactive Substances 25,000 Years Ago
   confidence 95%