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Nicotine use in early mediaeval Kirchheim/Teck, Germany
S Balabanova1, F W Rösing, G Bühler
1Sektion Pharmakotherapie, Universität Ulm, Poststelle Michelsberg, 89070 Ulm. erbbio@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Summary
Nicotine was detected in human bone samples from 5th-7th century Germany, suggesting the presence and use of tobacco plants (Nicotiana) long before Christopher Columbus
Area of Science:
- Paleoethnobotany
- Archaeological Science
- Forensic Anthropology
Background:
- Investigating the historical presence and use of psychoactive plants provides insight into past societies.
- The genus Nicotiana, commonly known as tobacco, has a complex history of cultivation and consumption.
Observation:
- Human bone samples from 123 Alemans (5th-7th century AD) were analyzed for nicotine content.
- Nicotine was quantified in 23 samples (31-150 ng/g) and detected in traces in 49 others.
Findings:
- The presence of nicotine in skeletal remains indicates the use of Nicotiana plants in ancient Germany.
- This evidence predates the widely accepted timeline of tobacco introduction to Europe by Columbus.
Implications:
- Suggests pre-Columbian knowledge and utilization of Nicotiana plants in Central Europe.
- Potential uses include domestic, medicinal, ritualistic, or luxury purposes, mirroring modern consumption patterns.