The ancient world was a brutal place. Parts of the modern world are still brutal places. But back then, violence was pretty widespread, and so were drugs. Sometimes, it seems, the two were combined. After all, if you’re a Classical-era barbarian about to take on the best of the Roman legions, knowing decapitation, disembowelment or crucifixion are the likely outcomes should you lose, a little bit of chemical enhancement might seem like a good idea. A recent find in northern Europe suggests that Germanic warriors did just that.
Barbarian warriors in ancient Roman times may have used stimulants to aid their performance in battle, a study has proposed.
The practice is suggested by small, spoon-like objects fitted to warriors’ belts that have been found at various sites in northern Europe, according to the study published in the journal Praehistorische…
