A new study published in Science Advances has uncovered an archaeological mystery in Indonesia. Scientists found human remains up to 25,000 years old with very strange scratches, and an explanation was needed.
After analyses with artificial saliva and genetically modified frog eggs, it turned out that these ancient hunters had the habit of sucking betel nuts — a stimulating and numbing substance — for hours on end.
The biggest surprise? The chewing of these ancient Mexicans had eaten away at their teeth down to the nerve. To overcome the terrible nerve pain, they would chew on even more nuts to numb their mouths, creating an ancient vicious cycle!
