Scientists: Stone Age man used drugs to get high

Scientists knew that humans had a long history of drug use, but didn’t have any evidence to prove it until now. Two researchers found equipment to prepare hallucinogenic drugs, which might have originated in South America between 100BC and 400BC.

Quetta Kaye from the University College London and archeologist Scott Fitzpatrick from North Carolina State University made this discovery on the Caribbean island of Carriacou. They found ceramic bowls, as well as tubes for inhaling drug fumes or powders. They believe it originated in South America first between 100BC and 400BC and then carried over 400 miles to the islands. Kaye and Fitzpatrick believe that the drug used at that time was cohoba, a hallucinogen made from the beans of a mimosa species. There was no cannabis at that time in the Caribbean area. The prehistoric South American tribes might have used opiates (obtained from poppies) and fungi (widespread during that time). Previously, archeologists have suggested that human might have used mind-expanding drugs from mescal beans and peyote cacti about 5,000 years ago, but they didn’t have proof to back their theories. They said people at that time used drugs mainly to induce spiritual or trance-like states for religious type ceremonies.