# Sulawesi ancient betel nut use discovery > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sulawesi-ancient-betel-nut-use-discovery > Updated: 2026-09-18T06:13:34.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Archaeological research conducted on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi suggests that humans may have used psychoactive substances as far back as 25,000 years ago. By examining the skeletal remains of two ancient hunter-gatherers found in a cave, researchers identified unique dental pathologies, specifically deep, rounded grooves in the teeth and jawbones. Scientists concluded these marks were likely caused by repeatedly sucking on the hard seeds of the areca palm, known as betel nuts. Traces of psychoactive compounds, such as arecoline, were identified in the dental calculus. While modern consumption typically involves wrapping the nuts in leaves with lime, these findings indicate an ancient precursor method of sucking on the nuts directly. Researchers suggest the practice may have originated as a way to manage toothaches due to the nuts’ numbing properties, which could have led to a recurring habit because of their stimulant effects. The study, published in Science Advances, provides new insight into the long-standing history of human experimentation with psychoactive substances. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-18: Sulawesi archaeological find reveals ancient betel nut use Researchers studying ancient teeth from Sulawesi, Indonesia, have found evidence that hunter-gatherers were using betel nuts as a psychoactive substance between 16,000 and 25,000 years ago. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sulawesi-archaeological-find-reveals-ancient-betel-nut-use ### 2026-09-15: Sulawesi archaeological find suggests ancient use of psychoactive drugs Archaeologists in Sulawesi, Indonesia, have found evidence suggesting humans used psychoactive betel nuts up to 25,000 years ago, potentially to induce altered states or numb dental pain. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sulawesi-archaeological-find-suggests-ancient-use-of-psychoactive-drugs --- Cite as: Sulawesi ancient betel nut use discovery. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sulawesi-ancient-betel-nut-use-discovery