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Ancient Betel-Nut Chewing Detected in Sulawesi Forager Remains
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Discovery
Archaeologists reported two skeletal remains of early human foragers from Sulawesi, Indonesia, in a study published in *Science Advances*. One individual dates to roughly 25,000–16,000 years ago and the other to 7,600–6,300 years ago. Both show deep, rounded grooves on the teeth, a wear pattern the researchers attribute to the habitual sucking of whole betel nuts (seeds of *Areca catechu*).
Historical Context of Betel-Nut Use
Betel-nut chewing is the world’s fourth-most widely used psychoactive practice after alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. Modern users prepare a “quid” by mixing processed betel seed with slaked lime and other ingredients; about one-tenth of the global population chews it, especially across South and Southeast Asia. Prior theories placed the emergence of drug-taking after the advent of agriculture, around 13,000 years ago, linking early use to fermented alcohol.
Scientific Findings
Laboratory experiments that immersed betel nuts in artificial saliva demonstrated that even simple sucking releases enough psychoactive compounds to affect brain function. The researchers suggest that while the ancient habit likely produced milder effects than contemporary quid chewing, it was sufficiently frequent to cause severe gum disease in the foragers.
Official Statements
Lead researcher Brumm noted that the discovery challenges the view that drug-taking began only with farming societies. By identifying betel-nut chewing among pre-agricultural foragers, the study implies that certain modern drug-use behaviors have deep forager roots.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Although poorly known in western societies, it is the world's fourth most widely used psychoactive substance, after alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.” — Brumm