I've used Areca / Betel nut smuggling as a plot hook in my solo game and this article points to how the use of it goes back thousands of years. The real history of the part of the world is ever more fascinating. Reminder that you can find all the real history posts here: Real History
"Our new study, published in Science Advances, suggests betel nut use originated much earlier than previously believed – perhaps as long as 25,000 years ago. We also found evidence that the modern practice of chewing these palm seeds evolved from an older and simpler form of drug use – one that also carried health consequences."
Read the full article here: Ancient teeth reveal the Ice Age origins of the world’s 4th most common addictive drug
