Archaeological evidence is reshaping our understanding of the use of stimulants by ancient warrior cultures, specifically those outside the influence of the Roman Empire. Traditionally, it was believed that the barbarian peoples of northern Europe, including the Germanic tribes, made little use of narcotics, relying mainly on alcohol as a form of sustenance and ritualistic consumption. However, recent studies suggest a different reality, pointing to the potential widespread use of stimulants among these peoples, particularly in the context of warfare.
This new perspective arises from the work of archaeologist Prof. Andrzej Kokowski and biologists at Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, Poland. They analyzed 241 small, spoon-shaped objects found at 116 archaeological sites across northern Europe, predominantly in marshland sites and graves in Scandinavia, Germany, and Poland, dating back to the Roman period. These objects, typically measuring 40 to 70 mm in length, have concave or flat bowls measuring 10 to 20 mm in diameter and were found attached to the belts of men, with no apparent functional role in the fastening of the belts themselves. They were discovered alongside items associated with warfare, leading the researchers to hypothesize that these spoons may have been used to dispense stimulants, particularly before battle.
The design of these objects suggests that they were not purely ornamental or accidental. Instead, they were likely purposefully crafted and used in ways that are not immediately obvious from the archaeological record. The concentration of these objects alongside military artifacts is significant, especially since stimulants have historically been known to be used in combat situations. In many cultures, substances like opium, alcohol, and other narcotics were used to enhance physical performance, reduce the fear and anxiety of battle, and even stimulate aggression. Thus, these spoon-shaped objects may have served as tools to measure out and ingest specific doses of stimulants before heading into combat.
To understand what types of stimulants could have been available to the Germanic peoples during the Roman period, Kokowski and his team examined the potential plant and fungi resources that might have been accessible to them. Their research suggests that the Germanic tribes likely had access to a variety of substances that could function as stimulants, both local and imported. These include the opium poppy, hops, hemp, henbane, belladonna, and various types of fungi, all of which have known psychoactive properties. These substances could have been ingested in a variety of forms, such as liquids, often dissolved in alcohol, or powdered and consumed as snuffs or as part of a concoction.
The researchers emphasize that the use of stimulants would have required not only a wide range of knowledge about these substances but also an organized approach to acquiring, preparing, and distributing them, particularly in large quantities suitable for military purposes. Such organization suggests a degree of sophistication in the social structures of the Germanic tribes, as well as an understanding of the physical and psychological effects of these substances. This knowledge may have been passed down through generations, forming part of the broader medicinal and ritualistic practices within these societies.
Moreover, the use of stimulants by the Germanic peoples was likely not confined solely to warfare. These substances, as the researchers suggest, could have had other applications, particularly in the realms of medicine and ritual. In many ancient cultures, the use of psychoactive substances was deeply intertwined with religious practices, and the Germanic tribes may have used stimulants in their spiritual or healing rituals. The ability to alter consciousness through the ingestion of these substances could have been seen as a way to communicate with deities or to access spiritual realms, just as it was in other ancient cultures.
The possibility that these objects were used for stimulants also provides new insights into the relationship between the Roman Empire and its northern neighbors. While the Romans were known to have used opium and other narcotics in their medical practices, their northern counterparts may have had similar practices, though these were more localized and less documented in ancient texts. This highlights the gap in our understanding of ancient European drug use and suggests that the history of narcotics in ancient cultures is far broader than previously thought.
The discovery of these spoon-shaped objects and their possible connection to the use of stimulants paints a more complex picture of life among the Germanic tribes during the Roman period. Rather than being simple, alcohol-consuming warrior societies, these peoples may have had a more nuanced relationship with mind-altering substances, using them not only to enhance their combat abilities but also in medicine and religious rituals. The fact that these substances were likely used in controlled doses, with the spoons serving as instruments for measuring out the right amount, suggests a sophisticated understanding of the effects of these drugs and a level of knowledge on par with other ancient cultures that practiced similar forms of medicinal and ritualistic drug use.
The work is published in the journal Praehistorische Zeitschrift.