Ancient Indonesian Foragers Consumed Mind-Altering Nuts 25,000 Years Ago

New research analyzing two ancient skeletons from Sulawesi, Indonesia, suggests that early human foragers may have routinely consumed mind-altering nuts as far back as 25,000 years ago. The study identified significant tooth wear and traces of a psychoactive substance in the teeth of the individuals, pointing to the regular use of betel nuts.

This discovery represents potentially the earliest known evidence of humans engaging in drug-taking behavior. The findings shed light on the complex social and ritualistic practices of prehistoric populations and their interaction with psychoactive plants.