The world’s oldest drug user has been discovered – and his habit dates back 25,000 years.
Scientists from Griffith University say that an ancient hunter–gatherer in Indonesia was sucking on ‘betel nuts’ during the last Ice Age.
These nuts induce a sense of mild euphoria and heightened alertness – and are still consumed throughout the Asia–Pacific region today.
‘Although poorly known in western societies, it is the world’s fourth most widely used psychoactive substance, after alcohol, caffeine and nicotine,’ lead author, Professor Adam Brumm said.
Until now, it was widely thought that humans started taking drugs during the Neolithic period, around 13,000 years ago.
However, the new findings push the earliest evidence of drug use back by more than 10,000 years.
The world’s oldest drug user has been discovered – and his habit dates back 25,000 years
Betel nuts induce a sense of mild euphoria and heightened alertness – and are still consumed throughout the Asia–Pacific region today
In their study, the researchers discovered the remains of two early human foragers on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi – one dating to 25,000–16,000 years ago, and the other to 7,600–6,300 years ago.
Both individuals had highly unusual dental–wear pattern, with deep, rounded grooves in their teeth.
According to the researchers, this suggests they had been sucking on whole betel nuts.
Until now, it was widely believed that betel nuts had to be chewed to release the psychoactive compound, arecoline.
However, the team conducted experiments that proved sucking alone is enough to release this compound.
‘Our team conducted experiments in which we soaked betel nuts in artificial saliva and tested the resultant broths against a panel of cloned human receptors expressed in frog egg cells, including specialised proteins that act as molecular switches, regulating neural activity,’ Professor Brumm said.
‘This showed that just sucking on intact betel nuts will release arecoline in sufficient amounts to have a physiological effect, altering brain function.’
As for why the individuals would have sucked on the nuts, the researchers suggest that they may have been trying to alleviate the pain of toothache.
In their study, the researchers discovered the remains of two early human foragers on the Indonesian iesland of Sulawesi – one dating to 25,000–16,000 years ago, and the other to 7,600–6,300 years ago. Both individuals had highly unusual dental–wear pattern, with deep, rounded grooves in their teeth
continued habitual use.’ The findings suggest that humans have turned to psychoactive compounds for much longer than we previously thought
Professor Brumm added: ‘Over time, however, sucking these hard, abrasive seeds wore down the foragers’ teeth so badly that in some cases the inner pulp chamber became completely exposed – this would have been extremely painful, caused difficulty eating, and greatly increased the rate of chronic tooth infection.
‘So while this habit may have been a remedy for toothache, years of prolonged nut–sucking eventually caused much worse dental health problems, creating a cycle of continued habitual use.’
Overall, the findings suggest that humans have turned to psychoactive compounds for much longer than we previously thought.
‘Emerging by up to 25,000 years ago in Sulawesi, thus long preceding the onset of agriculture, betel nut–sucking may be the earliest evidence for drug use anywhere in the world,’ Professor Brumm concluded.
‘By identifying the ancient practice underlying betel–nut chewing as we know it, the study implies that some modern drug–taking behaviours are deeply rooted in forager traditions.’
