Spanish and Chilean researchers have found direct evidence of drug use in Europe for the first time, thanks to a hair strand more than 2,900 years old hidden in the Es Càrritx cave on the island of Menorca, Spain. The hair, which formed part of a funeral ritual during the late Bronze Age, contains traces of atropine, scopolamine, and ephedrine, which are hallucinogenic substances derived from plants. The study, led by Elisa Guerra of the University of Valladolid, found that the drugs may have been used during ritual ceremonies. Until now, indirect evidence of drug use in Europe has been found, such as the detection of opium alkaloids in containers or narcotic plant remains in ritual contexts, but this is the oldest direct evidence in Europe.
Previously, the oldest direct evidence was from about 3,000 years ago in Chile. The study used only one strand of hair out of several, some up to 13 cm long. The researchers believe the substances were not used for pain relief and that they were consumed more for hallucinogenic purposes than therapeutic ones. Atropine and scopolamine are found naturally in the solanaceae family and can cause delirium and hallucinations. Ephedrine is a stimulant derived from certain species of shrubs and pines. The cave also tells the story of the Late Bronze Age inhabitants of Menorca, who were from densely populated societies where grazing was important.
In one of its chambers, a funeral ritual was held in which hair was dyed red, combed, and strands were cut to be placed in cylindrical wooden tubes with lids. It is thought that only certain individuals were subjected to this practice, and they may have had shamanic attributes associated with drug ingestion. Six of these tubes were hidden in a dugout pit in a remote area of the cave, where they were preserved with other objects. These pieces and other materials found in the cave are currently on display at the Municipal Museum Can Saura in Ciutadella, Menorca.