A recent study suggests that Germanic warriors during the Roman era used carefully dosed stimulants to enhance their courage and physical endurance in battle. Researchers found hundreds of small, spoon-like objects at archaeological sites across Scandinavia, Germany, and Poland, dating between the 1st and 4th centuries CE.
These objects, measuring 1.5 to 2.7 inches in length, were attached to warriors’ belts and likely used to dispense stimulant substances. The study, led by Prof. Andrzej Kokowski, analyzed the availability of natural stimulants in the region and identified a range of substances potentially used, including opium poppies, hemp, henbane, belladonna, and hallucinogenic fungi.
The research team proposes that an organized trade network existed to supply these substances, indicating a “narcotic economy” during the Roman period. The precise dosing facilitated by these spoons highlights the knowledge and discipline involved in their use. The study’s findings challenge long-held assumptions about Germanic tribes’ access to narcotics beyond alcohol.
The use of stimulants extended beyond battlefields, with evidence suggesting they played a role in medicine and rituals. These societies blended warfare, ritual, and trade into their cultural practices.
Source: https://archaeologymag.com/2024/12/barbarian-warriors-used-stimulants-during-roman-era