Ancient Teeth Show Earliest Evidence of Human Drug Use in Indonesia

Archaeologists have uncovered what may be the earliest evidence of human drug use, pushing back previous estimates by over 10,000 years. An international team led by Professor Adam Brumm from Griffith University’s Australian Research Center for Human Evolution (ARCHE) found betel nut residue on ancient teeth in Indonesia, dating back to around 25,000 years ago.

The study, published in the journal Science Advances, challenges earlier beliefs that psychoactive drug use began with the rise of agriculture and was limited to fermented beverages. Betel nuts, an addictive stimulant popular throughout the Asia-Pacific region today, were previously thought to have been used only about 3,500 years ago.

The research team analyzed human remains from Sulawesi, one of Indonesia’s islands, where they discovered two hunter-gatherer skeletons: one dating back 7,600 to 6,300 years and another from 25,000 to 16,000 years ago. These remains showed deep, rounded grooves on the teeth, which researchers interpreted as evidence of betel nut use. Biochemical analysis confirmed the presence of Arecoline, a neuroactive alkaloid in betel nuts.

Professor Brumm and his team conducted experiments where they soaked betel nuts in artificial saliva to test for physiological effects. They found that simply sucking on intact betel nuts releases enough Arecoline to alter brain function, suggesting this practice was likely used as an early form of drug use.

The initial use of betel nuts may have been driven by medicinal purposes such as treating toothaches, but the habit led to severe dental problems over time. The abrasive nature of the nuts wore down teeth so badly that in some cases, pulp chambers became completely exposed, causing significant pain and increasing infection rates.

This discovery significantly rewrites our understanding of human drug history, indicating that psychoactive substance use predates agriculture by thousands of years. It suggests that modern drug-taking behaviors may have roots in ancient forager traditions, challenging previous assumptions about the origins of such practices.

The findings highlight the need to reconsider prehistoric cultural and social practices, particularly regarding health and medicine. This research not only provides insights into early human behavior but also underscores the long-standing relationship between humans and psychoactive substances.