# Sulawesi prehistoric betel nut use

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sulawesi-prehistoric-betel-nut-use
> Updated: 2026-09-11T20:07:06.000Z. Sources: 26. Developments: 2.

Archaeological research conducted on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi suggests that prehistoric humans used psychoactive substances as early as 25,000 years ago. By analyzing the skeletal remains of two hunter-gatherers, researchers identified unusual dental wear patterns consisting of deep, rounded grooves.

Scientists from Griffith University and Hasanuddin University believe these patterns resulted from foragers sucking on whole areca (betel) nuts to release arecoline, a neuroactive alkaloid. While modern consumption typically involves chewing the nut with slaked lime to enhance effects, these ancient individuals likely used the intact nut for its mild euphoric properties or as a medicinal analgesic to numb toothaches. Chemical testing has confirmed the presence of arecoline within the dental tissue of the specimens.

New findings published in Science Advances provide specific timelines for these specimens: the oldest dates to between 25,000 and 16,000 years ago, while a second specimen dates to between 7,600 and 6,300 years ago. Lead author Adam Brumm noted that while the practice may have served as an analgesic, it likely caused severe dental damage, including the exposure of internal pulp and chronic infections. Brumm suggests this may have created a ‘vicious cycle,’ where the hard seeds caused dental wear and pain, leading to increased dependency on the stimulant to alleviate that very pain.

This discovery challenges the previous archaeological timeline, which linked the emergence of drug use traditions to the rise of agriculture and alcohol production approximately 13,000 years ago. Betel nut consumption remains a widespread tradition in Asia and the Pacific today, ranking as the fourth most consumed psychoactive substance globally after alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-11: Sulawesi remains suggest psychoactive drug use 25,000 years ago

New research on Sulawesi hunter-gatherer remains suggests humans used psychoactive betel nuts as early as 25,000 years ago, potentially to treat dental pain.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sulawesi-archaeological-finds-reveal-prehistoric-use-of-betel-nut

### 2026-09-09: Sulawesi archaeological finds suggest drug use 25,000 years ago

Research on ancient Sulawesi remains suggests humans used psychoactive betel nuts as early as 25,000 years ago, potentially to induce euphoria or relieve toothaches.

15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sulawesi-foragers-may-have-used-psychoactive-nuts-25000-years-ago

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Cite as: Sulawesi prehistoric betel nut use. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sulawesi-prehistoric-betel-nut-use