Scientists have uncovered evidence suggesting that early human foragers in Indonesia may have been using the betel nut as a psychoactive substance as far back as 25,000 years ago. This finding, published in the journal Science Advances, challenges previous theories that drug use began only after the development of farming and the creation of fermented beverages.
The research centered on the examination of rare skeletal remains of two early human foragers discovered on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. One set of remains was dated to between 25,000 and 16,000 years ago, and the other to between 7,600 and 6,300 years ago.
Both individuals exhibited an unusual pattern of dental wear characterized by deep, rounded grooves in their teeth. The researchers determined that this wear was caused by the practice of sucking whole betel nuts. The betel nut, the seed of the Areca catechu palm, is known to induce a mild sense of euphoria and heightened awareness when consumed.
“Although poorly known in western societies, it is the world's fourth most widely used psychoactive substance, after alcohol, caffeine and nicotine,” noted one of the researchers. In its modern form, betel nut is processed and mixed with slaked lime and other ingredients to create a quid, which is then chewed. This practice remains popular in South and Southeast Asia, with an estimated one-tenth of the global population currently consuming it.
Experimental analysis involving the soaking of betel nuts in artificial saliva indicated that simply sucking on intact nuts released sufficient psychoactive compounds to potentially alter brain function. While the effects of this ancient method may have been less potent than modern quid chewing, the study suggests the habit was significant enough to lead to severe gum disease.
The findings imply that some contemporary drug-taking behaviors may have deep roots in the traditions of ancient foraging societies, pushing back the timeline for human psychoactive substance use significantly earlier than previously believed.