Their “rotted” teeth reveal shocking drug use going back 25,000 years

Live updates

1. 1d ago

   Teeth Reveal 25,000-Year-Old Drug Use

   Ancient teeth recovered from Indonesian foragers indicate the earliest known evidence of habitual drug use, dating back 25,000 years into the Ice Age. Archaeologists discovered that these hunter-gatherers may have regularly sucked on psychoactive betel nuts. The findings push the recorded history of psychoactive substance use much further back in time than previously documented. Researchers analyzed the rotted dental remains to uncover this prehistoric habit.

   Why it matters

   This discovery sheds light on early human dietary and cultural practices during the Ice Age. Understanding the timeline of psychoactive substance use helps scientists trace how ancient human populations interacted with their local botanical environments. The evidence shifts the known origins of habitual drug consumption significantly deeper into prehistory.

   What is confirmed

   • Indonesian foragers may have sucked on mind-altering nuts 25,000 years ago.
   • Ancient teeth suggest humans were using psychoactive betel nuts, pushing the history of habitual drug use deep into the Ice Age.

   What to watch next

   • Further dental analysis from other prehistoric sites in the region
   • Additional peer-reviewed studies detailing the chemical residue on the ancient teeth
   Sources used for this update (6)

   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. 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
   4. cnn.com — Commonly used psychoactive substance may have prehistoric origins
   5. Futura, le média qui explore le monde — Their “rotted” teeth reveal shocking drug use going back 25,000 years
   6. scitechdaily.com — A 25,000-Year-Old Drug Habit Was Hidden in Ancient Teeth
   confidence 90%