Archaeologists found what may be one of the oldest evidence of psychoactive substance use by humans. The habit of chewing or sucking betel nut, the seed of the areca palm, may have started up to 25 thousand years ago, during the Ice Age, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances that analyzed human remains found in Indonesia.
The research examined teeth from two hunter-gatherer skeletons, dated between 23 thousand and 4,300 BC. The researchers identified unusual dental wear patterns, compatible with the habit of keeping hard, rounded objects in the mouth. Chemical residues found in the teeth also indicated the consumption of areca seeds.
According to the scientists, the habit may have caused damage to the teeth of the analyzed individuals. Adam Brumm, professor at Griffith University in Australia, commented on the finding, suggesting that the practice may have origins much older than previously imagined.
