Barbarian warriors in Roman times used ‘stimulants’ in battle, scientists say – after finding small, spoon-shaped objects on their belts

From the British Navy’s tot of rum to the German army’s enthusiastic adoption of amphetamines in WWII, the use of narcotics in the military is nothing new.

But now, experts have found that soldiers may have been using drugs to fight off fear and boredom for at least 1,500 years.

Archaeologists say barbarian warriors may have used ‘stimulants’ to give them a buzz before battle after finding small spoon-shaped objects tied to their belts.

The researchers argue that these small metal spoons would have been ‘an excellent way to dose stimulants’ while avoiding the risk of a dangerous overdose.

While a barbarian warrior wouldn’t be using a modern drug like cocaine, there is a wide range of herbal stimulants that could have been used.

Warriors might have taken powdered drugs derived from opium poppies, hemp, henbane, belladonna, and various psychedelic fungi.

Any of these substances in the right dose could provide the stimulation warriors needed to face the stress and exertion of ancient warfare.

The use of these drugs may have been so common that the researchers suggest there would have been a sophisticated narcotic economy to keep the troops supplied.

Archaeologists say that Barbarian warriors in the Roman era may have taken stimulants before battle to reduce fear and give them energy (artist’s impression) 

Just like in the film Gladiator, the Germanic tribes of Europe would have been fierce warriors who fought against the Roman Empire. But experts now say they may have got some of their ferocity from a dose of narcotic plants

Overall, the researchers identified and categorised 241 spoon-shaped objects at 116 sites primarily found in graves across modern-day Scandinavia, Germany and Poland.

The objects have handles, mostly between 1.5-inch and 2.7-inch (40mm and 70mm) long, and either a concave bowl or flat disk measuring up to 0.7-inch (20mm) across.

While the specimens that survive are largely made of metals like silver, or iron they could have also been made of wood or antler which has since rotted away. 

While the use of these spoons initially baffled researchers, a clue came from the type of materials they were found alongside.

In their paper, published in Praehistorische Zeitschrift, the researchers write: ‘It turned out that all of them were found together with elements of war equipment.’

Combined with the fact that the spoons were tied with thongs long enough to raise them to the face, the researchers propose that they could have been used by warriors to dose narcotics.

The researchers point out that history shows a long record of soldiers using narcotics to stave off the stress of battle and argue that ancient history would have been no exception to the rule.

While alcohol was the main intoxicant of the time, ancient societies were well aware of the narcotic uses of plants.

Researchers argue that a series of metal spoons (pictured) found tied to the belts of Germanic warriors were used to dose powdered narcotics 

The researchers found 241 of the spoon-shaped objects. Those with rounded bowls were found mainly in modern-day Poland and Germany (left) while those with flat heads were mainly found in Scandinavian graves (left)

What drugs might a barbarian warrior have taken?

Opium Poppies: Relaxation, euphoria, mild trance state

Belladonna: Blured vision, hallucinations, delerium

Cannabis: Reduced pain, sedative effects 

Ergot fungus: Auditory and visual hallucinations, euphoria 

Amanita muscaria: Hallucinations, euphoria, agitation

Psilocybe cubensis: Euphoria, hallucinations, disorientation  

For example, poppies were cultivated for opium by the Greeks and Romans who used the opioid for medicine and stimulation. 

Likewise, the discovery of a chunk of opium in the tomb of a fifth-century woman in the Caucasus region of eastern Europe suggests that drugs may have been used to produce narcotic trances in shamanic rituals. 

Since many plant-based narcotics could have powerful and often dangerous side-effects, getting the dosage right would be critical.

The researchers therefore suggest that the size of the bowls or disks ‘determined the safest amount of stimulant necessary to stimulate the body to increased exertion or to relieve stress.

‘Exceeding these doses could have had tragic consequences for the user,’ they say.

By analysing the natural habitat and cultivating ranges of various plants, the researchers identified a wide selection of narcotics which could have been powdered or dissolved in alcohol.

For example, an ancient barbarian warrior might have snorted the powdered leaves of the belladonna plant, otherwise known as deadly nightshade.

While fatal in an excessive dose, the tropane alkaloids in the leaves produce accelerated heart rate, psychomotor agitation and even realistic visual hallucinations.

Opium poppies (right) are native to Spain, France, and parts of Northern Africa (shown in green) and were spread widely by the Roman period (purple)

The Germanic people would have also been aware of the ergot fungus (pictured) which grows on Rye and causes powerful hallucinations. This could have been powdered and taken in small doses as a stimulant 

Likewise, the ergot fungus which grows on rye grain and wild grasses would have been widely known and extremely easy to cultivate and causes intense hallucinations.

Poisoning by this fungus, referred to as St Anthony’s fire, frequently led to mass hallucinations and deaths.

Evidence from Spain even suggests that the fungus was used to give beer a hallucinogenic kick for use in funeral ceremonies as early as 300 BC.

Alternatively, a warrior looking for something a little more relaxing could have used a derivative of hemp, also known as cannabis, which was widely cultivated and consumed across Europe.

In their study, published in the journal Praehistorische Zeitschrift, the researchers argue that these ‘agitation stimulants’ were consciously used for medicinal and even ritual purposes.

‘Such stimulant use by the Germanic peoples of northern Europe was likely extensive during Roman-era military conflicts,’ they say. 

‘The use of agitation stimulants may have been far greater than had been assumed. 

‘The amount of dispensing utensils to aid body efficiency may even attest to their prevalence.’

Warriors also may have taken the powdered leaves or roots a nightshade such as Belladonna (right) which is native to most of northern Europe (green) and was introduced in some parts of Scandinavia (purple) 

By their estimation somewhere between a third and half of all warriors in some locations would have been carrying spoons for dosing narcotics.

The use of narcotics may have been so widespread that the researchers believe they may have discovered a previously unknown branch of the military economy.

They add: ‘Judging by our assessment of the degree of demand for stimulants in the Germanic armies of European Barbaricum, this must have been an important industry.

‘It had to create not only a constant demand, but also a requirement for an adequate quality of product, which after all influenced the effectiveness of the confrontation with the enemy.’

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