Science
Ancient grooves in Indonesian human teeth linked to early betel nut use
NPR reports that researchers found chemical and physical traces of betel nut use in 25,000-year-old teeth.
The short version
- Archaeologists analyzing ancient human teeth from Sulawesi, Indonesia, discovered unusual grooves along with chemical residues of arecoline.[NPR]
- The findings suggest ancient hunter-gatherers habitually sucked on hard betel seeds up to 25,000 years ago.[NPR]
- Outside scientists caution that the study relies on a small sample size of just two skeletons.[NPR]
Key facts
- Archaeologists excavated two sets of ancient human teeth in Sulawesi, Indonesia, featuring unusual grooves that exposed the pulp cavity.[NPR]
- Chemical testing on the dental tissues uncovered traces of arecoline, an active compound naturally occurring only in betel nuts.[NPR]
- Researchers tested artificial saliva extractions on engineered frog egg cells to show that sucking betel nuts activates human brain receptors.[NPR]
What remains uncertain
- The findings are based on a small sample size of only two skeletons, which outside experts note limits broad conclusions.[NPR]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.