Europeans were tripping in the Bronze Age
Europeans were tripping in the Bronze Age
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Tripping in the Bronze Age
Recent findings suggest that psychoactive drugs were used by Europeans during the Bronze Age, challenging previous assumptions that ancient societies only used drugs for medicinal purposes.
Researchers have discovered traces of hallucinogenic substances in the hair of people who lived in Europe around 4,000 years ago, providing new insights into the ancient world and its practices.
The Research
The study, conducted by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany, analyzed hair samples from 99 individuals who lived between 2,000 and 1,200 BCE in different regions of Europe, including Germany, Italy, and Russia.
The samples were examined using mass spectrometry, a technique that allows researchers to detect molecules of different substances in a sample.
The results showed that at least some of the people had consumed psychoactive substances such as cannabis and opium.
The study also found that some individuals had used substances that contained psilocybin, the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful hallucinogen found in certain plants.
The findings challenge previous assumptions that psychoactive drugs were only used for medicinal purposes in ancient societies. While it is difficult to determine the exact reasons why people consumed these substances, the study suggests that they may have been used for social and religious purposes, such as in rituals or ceremonies.
Regional differences in psychoactive drug use
Interestingly, the study also revealed regional differences in drug use during the Bronze Age. While cannabis and opium were found in most hair samples, psilocybin and DMT were only detected in samples from central and southern Europe, specifically from Italy and the Iberian Peninsula.
The discovery of psychoactive drug use in ancient Europe raises new questions about the relationship between humans and drugs throughout history. It also highlights the importance of understanding the cultural and social contexts in which these substances were used.
As the lead author of the study, Dr. Nicolas Cole, notes, "It is important to recognize that the consumption of these substances was not a homogeneous practice and was shaped by local cultural contexts and individual choices."
Implications for contemporary drug policy
These findings also have implications for contemporary drug policy and the ongoing debate around drug legalization. While the use of psychoactive substances has been stigmatized in modern societies, the discovery of their historical use suggests that they have played a role in human culture and society for millennia.
As such, it is important to consider alternative perspectives and approaches to drug policy that take into account the complex relationship between humans and drugs throughout history.
Final Thoughts
The recent discovery of psychoactive drug use during the Bronze Age in Europe challenges previous assumptions about ancient drug use and highlights the importance of understanding the cultural and social contexts in which these substances were used.
While it is difficult to determine the exact reasons why people consumed these substances, the findings suggest that they may have been used for social and religious purposes.
These findings have implications for contemporary drug policy and the ongoing debate around drug legalization.
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history , psychedelics ,
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