Ancient Drug Use: 25,000-Year-Old Teeth Reveal First Evidence 2026

Ancient drug use may date back 25,000 years, according to a groundbreaking new study that analyzed teeth from two hunter-gatherer individuals found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The research, published in Science Advances, provides the earliest chemical evidence of psychoactive plant consumption, pushing back the known timeline by more than 20,000 years.

The discovery challenges previous assumptions about when humans began actively seeking the effects of neuroactive plants. Until now, the oldest chemical evidence of plant-based drug use pointed to about 4,000 years ago. This new finding suggests that our ancestors were experimenting with mind-altering substances during the Late Pleistocene.

What the Ancient Teeth Revealed

Researchers focused on the dental remains of two individuals from Sulawesi. One lived between 25,000 and 16,000 years ago, while the other dates to between 7,600 and 6,300 years ago. Both showed a distinctive pattern of wear: deep, rounded grooves on their teeth.

This wear pattern is consistent with the habitual holding and sucking of a hard, spherical object over long periods. Such physical evidence suggests that these individuals were consuming something that required prolonged oral contact—likely a psychoactive plant material wrapped in a fibrous substance or chewed directly.

The teeth themselves act as a durable record of behavior. Unlike soft tissue or artifacts, dental wear preserves a direct signature of what people put in their mouths. In this case, the grooves point to a repeated, intentional practice rather than accidental damage.

Why This Discovery Matters

This finding reshapes our understanding of early human cognition and culture. It indicates that hunter-gatherers were not merely surviving but actively seeking altered states of consciousness. Such behavior implies a sophisticated knowledge of local flora and a deliberate effort to manipulate their environment for psychological effects.

Moreover, the use of psychoactive plants may have played a role in social or ritual activities. While we cannot know the exact purpose, the habitual nature of the practice suggests it was embedded in daily life or special ceremonies. This adds a new dimension to our picture of Pleistocene humans as curious and experimental.

The study also highlights the importance of dental anthropology. Teeth can provide clues about diet, tool use, and now drug use, offering a window into behaviors that might otherwise leave no trace.

How the Study Was Conducted

The researchers analyzed the dental remains using advanced microscopy and chemical techniques. They compared the wear patterns to those produced experimentally by chewing various materials. The deep, rounded grooves matched those created by sucking on hard objects, such as certain seeds or plant fibers.

Additionally, the team looked for chemical residues on the teeth, though the primary evidence comes from the physical wear. The combination of morphological and contextual data strengthens the case for intentional psychoactive plant use.

The two individuals were found in different archaeological layers, but both exhibited similar wear, suggesting a persistent cultural practice over thousands of years. This continuity implies that the knowledge of these plants was transmitted across generations.

Implications for Understanding Ancient Rituals

Psychoactive plants have long been associated with religious and shamanic practices in later societies. This discovery suggests that such traditions may have roots deep in the Paleolithic. The habitual use of mind-altering substances could have facilitated social bonding, spiritual experiences, or even medicinal applications.

However, researchers caution against overinterpreting the findings. We cannot know whether the plants were used recreationally, medicinally, or ritually. What is clear is that the behavior was deliberate and repeated.

This raises intriguing questions about the role of altered states in human evolution. Some theories propose that psychoactive substances contributed to the development of consciousness or social complexity. While speculative, the new evidence adds weight to the idea that drug use is not a modern phenomenon but a deeply rooted human behavior. The longer history behind the story is traced in Ancient Drug Use: 25,000-Year-Old Teeth Reveal First Evidence.

What to Watch Next

Future research will likely focus on identifying the specific plants involved. Chemical analysis of dental calculus (tartar) could reveal residues of alkaloids or other compounds. Additionally, more archaeological sites in Southeast Asia may yield similar evidence, helping to map the spread of this practice. The background to this story is set out in Ancient Betel Nut Use: Earliest Drug Evidence Found. A related thread runs through Ancient DNA Reveals Female Shaman, Challenges Assumptions. Earlier coverage in New Dinosaur Discovery in China: Long Claws, Tiny Teeth shows how the argument developed.

Scientists also plan to examine other early human remains for comparable wear patterns. If such evidence appears in other regions, it would suggest that psychoactive plant use was widespread among early modern humans. A closer look at the same subject appears in Horsetail Plant: Ancient Survivor with Surprising Uses. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Science: latest articles. The same theme surfaces in Solar Flare Risk: Sun Could Be 30 Times More Destructive Than 2003, which takes a different angle.

As our analytical techniques improve, we may uncover even older evidence, further pushing back the timeline of human drug use. Each discovery adds a piece to the puzzle of our ancestors' lives. Context on how this played out before sits in PLD Space MIURA 9: Spain's Reusable Rocket Ambition. A companion piece, Building on Mars Without Earth Bricks: Gelatin and Yeast Solution, approaches the same subject from another angle.

FAQ