A research team of archaeologists and historians at the University of Leicester has developed a groundbreaking method for identifying smokers from past centuries by examining metabolites in human bones. This innovative approach was detailed in their recent study published in Science Advances, where the team focused on remains from people who lived in 18th-century England. The study’s findings represent a significant advancement in understanding historical habits and social behaviors, providing a new window into how widespread smoking was in earlier societies and challenging previous assumptions about its prevalence.
Traditionally, historians and archaeologists identified smokers from the past by looking for wear patterns and stains on teeth, especially those caused by clay pipes. Blackened teeth, a result of prolonged tobacco use, have often provided clues about an individual’s smoking habits. However, not all smokers had teeth that withstood the test of time, leaving researchers with a limited scope for identifying historical smokers. This limitation has long hindered scholars interested in studying lifestyle choices and societal trends related to tobacco use.
The Leicester team decided to turn to metabolites—chemical markers left behind from the breakdown of substances within the body—to investigate this question. Metabolites are intermediates or end products of metabolic processes that can become embedded in bones. Previous studies suggested that some metabolites from chewed or smoked tobacco could remain in bone tissue long after a person’s death, preserving a chemical signature of their habits. Building on this idea, the researchers sought to determine if it would be possible to identify these tobacco-specific metabolites in the bones of individuals who lived and died in 18th-century England.
To establish a baseline, the researchers first analyzed the chemical composition of bones from known smokers of the 1700s and compared them with bones from individuals who lived prior to the introduction of tobacco in England in the 1500s. Through this comparison, they were able to isolate dozens of distinct compounds, which were likely linked to tobacco use. These compounds served as markers that could differentiate smokers from non-smokers, even when no other physical evidence of smoking was present.
After isolating these compounds, the team examined 323 skeletons excavated from cemeteries in two English regions: North Lincolnshire and London. Their analysis revealed that smoking was far more widespread than previously believed, with approximately half of the individuals showing markers consistent with tobacco use. Moreover, the findings indicated that smoking was common across different social classes and among both men and women, suggesting that tobacco consumption was deeply integrated into the culture of the time. These discoveries challenge the traditional view that smoking was predominantly a male habit, revealing that it was a far more universal practice in 18th-century England than previously documented.
This research marks one of the first successful applications of metabolic analysis on skeletal remains to study historical substance use. By employing this technique, the team not only uncovered new insights into smoking habits but also opened up possibilities for investigating other substances that may have left their traces in bones, such as dietary components, drugs, and pollutants. The method could be a powerful tool for future research into the daily lives, habits, and environmental exposures of past populations.
Through this study, researchers have shown how advances in chemical analysis can refine our understanding of social practices from previous centuries.