Belt fittings suggest drug use by Germanic warriors

A study by Polish scientists proposes that small, spoon-shaped objects often found on the belts of ancient warriors across northern Europe may have been used to dispense stimulants before battle. Germanic warriors may have gone into battle high on narcotics! The objects, identified and analyzed by researchers from Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, were discovered at 116 archaeological sites in Scandinavia, Germany, and Poland. The spoon-shaped items – typically 40–70 mm long – were attached to warriors’ belts. With concave bowls or flat disks measuring 10–20mm, these terminals appear to have played no functional role on the belt. The study suggests that these objects could have been used to measure and dis- pense stimulants, likely to reduce stress and fear before battle and to enhance the warriors’ stamina. The team speculates that…

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Ancient Warfare (Digital) - 1 Issue, AW XVIII.1

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