Scientists Discover the Earliest Evidence of Drug Use in Really Old Teeth

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Ancient Teeth Reveal Habitual Drug Use 25,000 Years Ago

   Researchers identified traces of psychoactive betel nuts in the teeth of an Ice Age hunter-gatherer from Indonesia. This evidence indicates that humans deliberately used mind-altering substances up to 25,000 years ago. The habitual sucking of these nuts caused worsening dental disease in the individual. This finding pushes the documented history of habitual drug use significantly further back into the Ice Age than previously believed.

   Why it matters

   The discovery provides a rare look at prehistoric human behavior and addiction. It demonstrates that early humans actively sought out and interacted with psychoactive materials for their effects.

   What is confirmed

   • Ancient teeth from Indonesia show humans used psychoactive betel nuts 25,000 years ago.
   • The use of these mind-altering substances occurred during the Ice Age.

   What to watch next

   • Analysis of other Ice Age remains for similar psychoactive traces
   • Studies on the social or ritual purpose of betel nut use in prehistoric groups
   Sources used for this update (2)

   1. scitechdaily.com — A 25,000-Year-Old Drug Habit Was Hidden in Ancient Teeth
   2. www.vice.com — 25,000-Year-Old Teeth Reveal Ancient Humans Were Addicted to Nut Sucking
   confidence 100%
2. 4d ago

   Archaeologists find 25,000-year-old evidence of habitual drug use in Indonesia

   Archaeologists discovered the oldest known evidence of habitual drug use in the teeth of a hunter-gatherer from Indonesia who lived up to 25,000 years ago. The individual likely sucked on psychoactive betel nuts, which caused worsening dental disease. Researchers identified traces of arecoline in the teeth, suggesting that Ice Age humans used mind-altering substances. This discovery indicates that prehistoric humans interacted with psychoactive materials far earlier than previously documented, providing a new window into addiction and behavior in ancient environments.

   Why it matters

   The find pushes back the known timeline of human drug consumption by thousands of years. It reveals how early foragers utilized natural stimulants to alter their mental state. This study helps researchers understand the evolution of substance use in prehistoric societies.

   What is confirmed

   • Researchers found evidence of habitual drug use in the teeth of a hunter-gatherer who lived up to 25,000 years ago.
   • The individual used psychoactive betel nuts, which led to worsening dental disease.
   • The ancient teeth were discovered in Indonesia.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The practice of chewing betel nuts may have originally served as a form of pain relief.
   • The discovery was made on a small island.

   What to watch next

   • Analysis of additional human remains from the same region to determine if this was a widespread cultural practice
   • Further chemical testing to identify other substances used by these prehistoric foragers
   Sources used for this update (4)

   1. www.smithsonianmag.com — 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
   2. hightimes.com — Prehistoric High: 25,000-Year-Old Teeth May Hold the Oldest Evidence of Psychoactive Drug Use
   3. www.turkiyetoday.com — Study suggests humans used drugs 25,000 years ago
   4. thedebrief.org — 25,000 Years Ago, the Earliest Human Drug Use May Have Occurred on This Small Island
   confidence 90%
3. 5d ago

   Earliest Human Drug Use Discovered in Indonesian Teeth

   Researchers analyzing ancient fossil teeth discovered the oldest known evidence of human drug use, indicating that foragers in Indonesia may have sucked on psychoactive betel nuts twenty-five thousand years ago. The findings push back the documented timeline of habitual drug habits by thousands of years, offering new insight into prehistoric human behavior and consumption. Archaeologists studying human remains from caves on Indonesian islands identified dental damage and chemical markers associated with the practice, revealing long-standing interaction with mind-altering substances during the Ice Age.

   Why it matters

   Prior to this discovery, historical records of regular drug consumption pointed to much later eras in human development. Finding evidence preserved in fossilized dental remains allows scientists to track ancient cultural habits that left no durable artifacts behind. This breakthrough highlights how advances in analytical techniques on ancient human remains can uncover deeply rooted behavioral patterns from prehistoric populations.

   What is confirmed

   • Researchers found evidence that Ice Age foragers were sucking psychoactive betel nuts twenty-five thousand years ago.
   • The discovery represents the oldest known evidence of human drug use found in fossil teeth.
   • Archaeologists studied human teeth from caves in Indonesia.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The ancient dental damage directly reflects addiction to the world's fourth most common addictive drug.

   What to watch next

   • Further chemical analysis of additional ancient teeth from the region
   • Peer-reviewed publication details regarding the specific dental markers identified
   Sources used for this update (10)

   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. ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation — Oldest known evidence of human drug use discovered in fossil teeth
   5. Phys.org — Ice Age origins of one of humanity's oldest drug habits discovered
   6. The Conversation — Ancient teeth reveal the Ice Age origins of the world’s 4th most common addictive drug
   7. BBC — Drug use may have begun 25,000 years ago, new research finds
   8. www.zmescience.com — Earliest Human Drug Use Ever Found Shows People in Indonesia Were Getting High on Betel Nut as Far Back as 25,000 Years Ago
   9. www.popsci.com — Humans experimented with drugs 23,000 years earlier than we thought
   10. www.newser.com — It's Oldest Evidence of Habitual Drug Use—and the Damage
   confidence 100%