During the study, 240 small spoons found in 116 sites across modern Scandinavia, Germany, and Poland were examined. These objects attracted the attention of scientists, who suggest that they were not used for eating but for ingesting various substances with stimulating effects. According to the hypothesis, they helped warriors cope with physical and psychological burdens during battles, as well as to overcome stress.
“These discoveries show that our ancestors had a deep understanding of the properties of natural substances and used them for both ritual and medicinal purposes,” stated the authors of the study. They noted that such findings help to better understand the daily lives of ancient peoples and to revise notions about the development of science concerning substances and their effects on humans.
Among the possible natural stimulants that ancient Germanic tribes might have used, scientists mention opium poppy, hemp, belladonna, and henbane. Although there is currently no direct evidence for this hypothesis, research shows that people have long known about the properties of various plants and used them to enhance physical condition.
Scientists claim that the findings open new horizons for studying the pharmacology of ancient cultures. In particular, the use of natural stimulants could have been an important part of cultural and religious practices, as well as contributing to survival in brutal battles. In the context of primitive medicine, natural remedies could significantly improve physical and psychological well-being.