Chemical archaeology of kava, a potent brew

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Abstract
Kava lactones, which are present in the intoxicating Pacific Island drink, kava, have now been detected in a number of archaeological artefacts using selected‐ion monitoring techniques in conjunction with gas chromatography/electron impact‐mass spectrometry. Thus it is now possible to link unequivocally kava drinking, a major aspect of the ceremonial culture of many Pacific societies, to the archaeological record. In addition, a new variation of the kava lactone skeleton was tentatively identified in the form of 7,8‐dihydro‐5,6‐dehydrokawain and 7,8‐dihydro‐5,6‐dehydromethysticin.