Ancient teeth reveal the Ice Age origins of the world’s 4th most common addictive drug
Betel nut is the fourth most-used psychoactive drug in the world – and new evidence suggests it was being used in Indonesia as long as 25,000 years ago.
Recent discoveries in Indonesia have uncovered the prehistoric origins of betel nut chewing, a practice that has persisted for thousands of years. Betel nut, an addictive stimulant found in the Asia-Pacific region, is known for its euphoric and alerting effects, but also carries a high risk of mouth cancer. While its use has been documented in ancient texts from India and China dating back 2,000 years, new research suggests its origins may be much older, possibly as far back as 25,000 years ago.
Archaeologists unearthed the remains of two adult hunter-foragers in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Both individuals exhibited deep, rounded grooves on their teeth, a feature that puzzled researchers due to its uniqueness and apparent purpose. After comparing these dental patterns with historical records of clay pipe smokers, the team hypothesized that the grooves were caused by the repeated sucking of hard, spherical objects – most likely betel nut seeds.
The modern practice of chewing betel nut involves mixing the areca seed with slaked lime to create a "quid" that is chewed for its psychoactive effects. This process accelerates the absorption of the nut's compounds into the bloodstream. Although the exact origins of betel nut chewing remain unclear, these findings offer valuable insights into the long and complex history of this widely consumed psychoactive substance.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
