Sulawesi archaeological find reveals ancient betel nut use

Archaeological research published in Science Advances suggests that the use of betel nuts as a psychoactive substance dates back between 16,000 and 25,000 years. By examining skeletal remains found in a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, researchers identified unique dental pathology in the molars and jawbones of two ancient hunter-gatherers.

The individuals exhibited rounded, hollowed-out tooth grooves, which researchers believe resulted from sucking on the hard seeds of the areca palm. This practice may have originated as a method to manage toothaches, potentially leading to a recurring habit due to the stimulant effects of the nut.

While betel nut use is common across Asia and Oceania today, the study indicates that early users likely sucked on the nuts directly rather than using the modern preparation of wrapping them in betel leaves with slaked lime. This discovery provides insight into the long-standing history of human experimentation with psychoactive substances.