🎶 'I'm high-nutted, suck it and see' 🎶 by Forager, or, An unaesthetic anesthetic, or, A vicious circular, or, Indonesia gnaw more than ever, or, I betel think twice next time, or, 🎶 'You're a jawbreaker/Groove maker/Toothacher/Dent-chew mess around with me' 🎶 by Spat Dentacar
Science Indonesian foragers may have sucked on mind-altering nuts 25,000 years ago, research finds Analysis of two skeletons reveals tooth wear and traces of psychoactive substance in what may be earliest known evidence for human drug taking Ian Sample Science editor Wed 9 Sep 2026 14.00 EDT The researchers examined skeletal remains of two pre-agricultural foragers. Photograph: Pubu Alar_sulsel/ What may be the earliest known evidence for human drug taking has been traced to ancient Indonesian foragers who sucked on mind-altering nuts as long as 25,000 years ago. Analysis of two exceptionally rare skeletons from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi revealed dramatic tooth wear and traces of a psychoactive substance in the individuals’ remaining teeth, suggesting they routinely sucked on hard, abrasive betel nuts. Although little known in western societies, betel nuts are the world’s fourth most widely used psychoactive substance after alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, with an estima...