New research has shed light on the use of hallucinogenic drugs in Europe during the Bronze Age, around 3,000 years ago. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, analyzed hair strands from ancient Europeans and found evidence of the use of psychoactive substances such as cannabis and opium, as well as the hallucinogenic drug, psilocybin. The researchers analyzed hair samples from 87 individuals from the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Medieval periods, from various locations across Europe.
They found that the use of psychoactive substances was widespread during the Bronze Age, with evidence of cannabis and opium use in all samples from that period. Psilocybin use was also found in some samples from the Bronze Age.
The study’s lead author, Elisa Guerra-Doce, a researcher at the University of Valladolid in Spain, said that the findings suggest that the use of psychoactive substances was not limited to certain social classes or regions, but was widespread throughout Europe during the Bronze Age. The use of psychoactive substances in ancient societies has long been a topic of interest for researchers, but until now, there has been little direct evidence of their use. Hair analysis provides a unique opportunity to study the use of these substances in the past, as it can provide a long-term record of drug use.
The study’s findings have implications for our understanding of ancient societies and their use of drugs. It suggests that the use of psychoactive substances was not limited to certain groups or regions, but was widespread throughout Europe during the Bronze Age. This challenges the idea that drug use was a marginal activity in ancient societies, and suggests that it played a more significant role in their culture and social practices. The study also highlights the potential of hair analysis as a tool for studying the use of psychoactive substances in the past. This technique could be used to study drug use in other ancient societies, providing new insights into their culture and social practices. In conclusion, the study provides new insights into the use of psychoactive substances in ancient Europe, challenging our understanding of drug use in ancient societies. It also highlights the potential of hair analysis as a tool for studying drug use in the past. Further research in this area could provide new insights into the role of drugs in ancient societies, and their impact on culture and social practices.
