Humans have been using psychoactive substances for about 3,000 years. The analysis of a strand of hair found in Menorca revealed that local shamans used drugs in religious rites three millennia ago to enhance their senses. These substances were also used recreationally and to induce altered states, providing an advantage on the battlefield.
It appears the Germanic “barbarians” who attacked Rome were heavily under the influence. They even had specially designed teaspoons to consume the substances.
Furor teutonicus. Accounts of mind-altering substances among Germanic warriors who fought the Romans are abundant. Ancient Roman testimonies describe warriors who, nearly unclothed and howling, charged ferociously into battle, embodying what came to be called the Furor Teutonicus.
The Romans attributed their behavior to beer or mead. Over time, hallucinogenic mushrooms or fungi-infested foods were proposed as the cause. Some studies suggested that the warriors’ frenzy might have resulted from a dopamine and adrenaline surge triggered by combat.
The teaspoons. A recent study challenges these theories. Archaeologists and biologists at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland, examined dozens of spoon-shaped artifacts from Germanic archaeological sites.
These objects were primarily found in graves, battlefields, and military deposits in Scandinavia and the central Barbaricum, near the Roman Empire’s borders. The researchers identified two types of spoons:
- Type A1: Slim structure.
- Type A2: Robust structure with rivets.
The researchers concluded these spoons were used for consuming psychoactive substances, such as opium, henbane (“mad grass”), belladonna, and Amanita muscaria mushrooms. These substances could be ingested in powdered or liquid form, possibly mixed with alcohol.
The placement of many spoons on belts suggests that warriors consumed the substances before battle, possibly as stimulants to reduce fear and stress, enhance aggression, and induce a “warlike trance” that improved combat performance. This could explain the ferocity described by the Romans.
Deposits where Type A1 teaspoons were found.
Deposits where Type A2 teaspoons were found.
Controlled usage. The researchers highlighted that drug use among Germanic warriors was not random. Archaeological evidence suggests a significant level of organization and knowledge about psychoactive substances.
Plants and mushrooms were regionally sourced and processed before being supplied to soldiers, indicating an established drug economy akin to modern networks, albeit operating legally.
Challenging beliefs. One surprising aspect of the teaspoon discovery is the lack of mention in Roman records. Roman culture associated opium with the elite and superior civilizations, believing barbarians were limited to alcohol. Yet, opium was widespread in the Mediterranean, used by Egyptians, Philistines, Greeks, and Romans in various contexts. Researchers argue that some Germanic people likely used these substances not only for combat but also for medical and recreational purposes.
The findings challenge traditional views of ancient warfare and shed light on the organized, deliberate use of psychoactives in Germanic society.
Image | Stanislav (Stanisław) Kontny | Bernard Spragg. NZ
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