Barbarian warriors carried miniature spoons to snort stimulants before battles, study suggests

A new study published in Praehistorische Zeitschrift sheds light on the use of stimulants in ancient military practices. Researchers have found hundreds of small spoon-shaped objects at archaeological sites from the Roman period in Scandinavia, Germany, and Poland, which were likely used to dispense stimulants before battle. These objects were usually found alongside items used in war and were thought to have been attached to a man's belt, but they played no role in its functioning.

The spoon-shaped objects were mostly between 40 and 70 millimeters in length and had handles, with a concave bowl or flat disk between 10 and 20 millimeters wide, CNN Greece stated. Professor Andrzej Kokowski's team identified and classified 241 of these objects found in 116 sites dating from the Roman period, mainly in swampy areas and graves, according to La Vanguardia.

Researchers believe that warriors carried these small spoon-shaped objects on their belts to transport and administer stimulant substances during battles, Phys.org reported. The Independent noted that these objects were likely used for the quick measurement of the correct dose of stimulant to produce the desired effects and reduce the chances of overdose. "Exceeding these doses could have had tragic consequences for the user," the researchers stated, as reported by The Independent.

The researchers concluded that the Germanic communities could have had access to stimulant plants such as poppy, hops, hemp, henbane, belladonna, and various fungi, according to CNN Greece.

Phys.org reported that the use of such stimulant substances by the Germanic peoples of Northern Europe during the military conflicts of the Roman era may have been much greater than previously assumed. To provide the quantity and type of necessary stimulants, considerable knowledge and organization would have been required for their collection, preparation, and consumption, La Vanguardia stated.

"It seems that the awareness of the effects of various types of natural preparations on the human body entailed knowledge of their occurrence, methods of application and the desire to consciously use this wealth for medicinal and ritual purposes," Professor Kokowski stated.

The stimulant could have been consumed these either in powder form or dissolved in water or alcohol.

The researchers believe that the stimulants were probably also used for purposes other than warfare, such as in medicine and rituals. Historical records highlight the use of various kinds of stimulants throughout history to motivate soldiers and reduce the stress and fear of battle.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq