Strands of Hair from the Bronze Age Reveal First Direct Evidence of Drug Use in Europe.
A recent article published in the journal Scientific Reports reveals that scientists have discovered 3,000-year-old strands of hair, providing the first direct evidence of drug use in Bronze Age Europe.
Strands of hair found inside decorative tubes. (Photo: ASOME).
The unusual hair strands were discovered in a cave on Menorca, an island in Spain located in the Mediterranean Sea. Researchers state that humans inhabited the cave, known as Es Càrritx, around 3,600 years ago.
Inside Es Càrritx cave. (Photo: ASOME).
Explorers accidentally discovered Es Càrritx in 1995. When archaeologists began excavating the site, they uncovered the remains of approximately 210 individuals, as well as sealed decorative boxes filled with strands of dyed red hair.
Some strands of hair found inside the cave. (Photo: P. Witte).
Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, researchers meticulously examined the hair strands. They discovered atropine and scopolamine, two alkaloids that can induce hallucinations, delirium, and altered sensory perception. They also identified ephedrine, a stimulant that can enhance alertness and excitement.
The neuroactive alkaloids found in certain plants can lead to altered states of consciousness. Archaeologists suggest that ancient people may have used hallucinogenic plants in rituals.
This indicates that our Bronze Age ancestors likely consumed these compounds by ingesting specific plants. Scientists concluded that these individuals used these substances for at least one year.
The reasons behind the consumption of these substances by these communities remain unclear, although the research team suspects that shamans may have utilized them during religious ceremonies.
An artist’s interpretation of a hair-dyeing ritual inside the cave.
Researchers argue that although mind-altering drugs “are often not documented in the archaeological record”, their existence “has been inferred from indirect evidence”, such as residues on pottery. This is the first time direct evidence of drug consumption by Europeans has been discovered.
