Ancient betel nut use in Sulawesi linked to 25,000-year-old drug evidence
Consensus Summary
Archaeologists discovered fossilized teeth in Sulawesi, Indonesia, showing evidence of betel nut use dating back as far as 25,000 years, making it the oldest known example of human drug use by at least 3,000 years. Two individuals, one aged between 16,000 and 25,000 years and the other 6,300 to 7,600 years old, exhibited deep tooth grooves linked to sucking betel nuts, likely for pain relief. Traces of arecoline, the psychoactive compound in betel nuts, were found on the teeth, confirming their use. Both sources agree this practice predates agriculture and may have caused long-term dental damage, creating a cycle of pain and addiction. The study, published in *Science Advances*, suggests betel nut use could stretch back even further, possibly to Neanderthals, though direct evidence remains scarce.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Fossilized teeth from Sulawesi, Indonesia, show evidence of betel nut use dating back 25,000 years
- Two individuals with tooth grooves linked to betel nut sucking were found, one dated between 16,000 and 25,000 years old
- The younger individual was dated to 6,300 to 7,600 years old
- Both individuals were hunter-gatherers older than about 35
- Tooth grooves were caused by repeatedly sucking on a round object 1 or 2 centimetres in size
- Traces of arecoline, the psychoactive substance in betel nut, were found on the fossil teeth
- The study was published in the journal *Science Advances*
- Betel nut use may have been a painkiller but caused tooth damage, creating a 'vicious cycle'
- The oldest previously known evidence of drug use was 13,000-year-old beer brewing in Israel
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The fossils belonged to two people, with the younger one dated to 6,300 to 7,600 years old, predating agriculture on Sulawesi
- The team designed an experiment soaking betel nuts in artificial saliva and testing it on frog egg cells with human brain receptors
- The results suggested betel nut sucking would alter human brain function but not as intensely as modern chewing with slaked lime
- The grooves in the teeth stretched into the tooth pulp, likely causing toothaches
- Professor Brumm suggested the damaged teeth were evidence of a 'vicious cycle' where pain relief led to addiction and worse damage
- Dr. Sofia Samper Carro mentioned the research could help identify even older uses of betel nut or other drugs by earlier hominids like Neanderthals
- Betel nuts are the world’s fourth most widely used psychoactive substance after alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine
- The study suggests betel nut chewing habits may have evolved from simply sucking the nuts
- Dr. Elisa Guerra-Doce called the findings 'direct evidence of the antiquity of human drug use' and noted the tradition dates back to prehistoric times
- The team hypothesized the grooves were caused by holding hard, round, abrasive objects like betel nuts in the mouth for long periods
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The ABC states the younger individual was '6,300 to 7,600 years old,' while the Guardian only mentions 'about 7,000 years old' for one individual without the full range
- The ABC specifies the older individual was dated 'between 16,000 and 25,000 years old,' while the Guardian says '16,000 to 25,000 to years old,' with a slight grammatical inconsistency in phrasing
Source Articles
Betel nut traces in 25,000-year-old teeth point to early human drug use
Archaeologists find evidence in Indonesia of a human who appeared to use betel nut for its psychoactive properties up to 25,000 years ago.
Indonesian foragers may have sucked on mind-altering nuts 25,000 years ago, research finds
Analysis of two skeletons reveals tooth wear and traces of psychoactive substance in what may be earliest known evidence for human drug taking What may be the earliest known evidence for human drug taking has been traced to ancient Indonesian foragers who sucked on mind-altering nuts as long as 25,000 years ago. Analysis of two exceptionally rare skeletons from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi revealed dramatic tooth wear and traces of a psychoactive substance in the individuals’ remaining teet
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