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Ancient Teeth Reveal Betel Nut's 25,000-Year History
19 Sep
Summary
- Ancient teeth show grooves from sucking betel nuts 25,000 years ago.
- Sucking betel nuts released chemicals that affected ancient human brains.
- This practice may have evolved from pain relief to addiction.
An archaeological discovery in Indonesia suggests that the widespread practice of chewing betel nuts is ancient, potentially originating as far back as 25,000 years ago. Researchers examined ancient human teeth and found unusual grooves, which they believe were caused by hunter-gatherers sucking on betel nuts. This behavior may have been a method to obtain the nuts' painkilling effects.
The study, published in Science Advances, indicates that sucking on betel nuts releases arecoline, a chemical that can alter brain function. This discovery provides evidence for an early stage of betel nut usage, distinct from modern chewing. The researchers hypothesize that this ancient habit could have led to addiction.
While the findings are compelling, some experts suggest more evidence is needed, such as finding the nuts in an archaeological context. However, the chemical analysis of the teeth, showing traces of arecoline, supports the theory. The practice is now common globally, with an estimated 600 million users today.
