Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – For thousands of years, humans have used psychoactive plants for their narcotic effects. In Thailand, archaeological evidence has revealed the presence of betel nuts at burial sites. These plants are known for their stimulant properties and have been an integral part of cultural practices throughout history.
Archaeological burials with associated artifacts at Nong Ratchawat. Credit: Piyawit Moonkham.
Now, an international team of researchers has conducted a study on 4,000-year-old teeth to gain insights into ancient practices.
They discovered traces of compounds from betel nuts, suggesting that the practice of betel nut chewing has been prevalent in the country for thousands of years or possibly even longer. This study is pioneering in its ability to identify ‘archaeologically invisible’ cues within dental plaque, thereby uncovering ancient behaviors and practices that might have otherwise remained unknown over time.
In Southeast Asia, the practice of chewing betel nuts has a long history dating back to ancient times.
The plants contain compounds that can increase alertness, energy, euphoria, and relaxation in consumers. While this tradition is becoming less prevalent today, it remains an integral part of social and cultural customs that have persisted for millennia. A common effect of chewing betel nuts is the staining of teeth in shades ranging from dark reddish-brown to black.
Yet, teeth without staining may not mean that people didn’t chew betel nuts.
Using a new method, the researchers examined ancient dental plaque from Bronze Age Thailand and found evidence of betel nut chewing.
Left: Modern betel quid ingredients-Piper betel leaf, areca nut, limestone paste, tobacco, and Senegalia catechu bark filaments; right: red liquid produced after chewing betel quid. Credtit: Piyawit Moonkham.
Dr. Piyawit Moonkham, an anthropological archaeologist from Chiang Mai University in Thailand, reported in a study published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology that plant derivatives were discovered in dental calculus from a 4,000-year-old burial site at Nong Ratchawat, Thailand.
This finding represents the earliest direct biomolecular evidence of betel nut use in Southeast Asia.
“We demonstrate that dental calculus can preserve chemical signatures of psychoactive plant use for millennia, even when conventional archaeological evidence is completely absent,” added Dr Shannon Tushingham, the senior author, who is the associate curator of anthropology at the California Academy of Sciences.
“In essence, we’ve developed a way to make the invisible visible—revealing behaviors and practices that have been lost to time for 4,000 years.”
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Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
