It's Possible That Barbarian Warriors Used Drugs to Fight the Romans

According to recent research, Barbarian fighters may have sniffed drugs from tiny, delicate drug spoons before engaging in combat with the fierce Roman army, much like Gina Montana did in Scarface. These antiquated devices, which were frequently fastened to soldiers' belts and may have been used to administer hits of anything from opium to psychedelic fungus, are a little more elegant than a rolled-up banknote.

The name "Barbarians" refers to a wide range of Germanic, Celtic, and Thracian tribal civilizations that thrived outside the boundaries of the Roman Empire. The authors of a recent study set out to ascertain whether the Barbarian enemies whom Rome's armies frequently faced on the battlefield also used opium and other drugs, as the Romans themselves are known to have done so.

Hundreds of "small spoons, whose form and size excluded, for example, the function of a cosmetic utensil or a medical instrument" were among the indirect signs the researchers discovered after failing to find any direct proof supporting the usage of substances in antiquity.

241 samples were found at 116 Germanic sites from the Roman era in Scandinavia, Germany, and Poland. Despite not being involved in the buckle mechanism, the spoons, which normally measure between 40 and 70 millimeters (1.6 to 2.8 inches) in length and have either concave bowls or flat discs, were commonly connected to men's belts.

Importantly, the spoons were frequently discovered with weapons and other war-related objects, suggesting they were probably military gear. The study's authors conclude that "the spoon-ended fittings of the ends of the belt may have served as dispensers of stimulants for Germanic warriors" in light of all of these findings.

Although the precise psychoactive chemicals that the Barbarians may have consumed are still unknown, the researchers point out that exotic plants like cannabis, poisonous nightshade, and "devil's trumpet" were accessible throughout most of Europe at the time. Similar to hops or opium, the small spoons could have been used to consume hallucinogenic ergot fungus and psilocybin-containing magic mushrooms.

According to the authors, "depending on the dosage and the individual's mental set, this anger effect can range from agitation to full-blown rage and combativeness." This symptom is crucial in determining possible causes because it is possibly the most distinctive feature of the berserker state. It also offers a strong argument for why H. niger is a better theoretical intoxicant for berserkers than A. muscaria.

In the midst of battle, it was sometimes said that the berserkers were so furious and agitated that they could not tell friends from enemies. Surprisingly, one of the recognized signs of henbane-like drug intoxication is the inability to recognize faces.

However, it's also possible that poisonous henbane seeds were consumed. During the Viking Age, the infamous "berserker" Norse warriors may have utilized the seeds, which were ritually ingested throughout the Roman Empire and were known to arouse tremendous wrath, to help them perform better on the battlefield.

The authors of the study speculate that Barbarian warriors may have been able to overcome their fear and boost their energy levels before going to battle by consuming the right amount of the aforementioned drugs. Therefore, it's possible that the spoons were made to distribute the recommended dosage of specific medications.

Furthermore, the researchers hypothesize that the use of dope on the battlefield may have been a common feature of ancient warfare, which resulted in the development of extremely profitable drug marketplaces that supplied soldiers from all armies during the Roman era. They conclude, "This must have been an important industry based on our assessment of the degree of demand for stimulants in the Germanic armies of European Barbaricum."