Cavemen got high on more than life, according to an researcher at Bradford University who says our prehistoric forefathers regularly smoked pot.

David Cowland, a postgraduate student in the university's Department of Archaeology, is presenting a lecture on Food, Drink and Drugs used thousands of years ago.

He says there is a wealth of evidence that our ancestors took 'magic mushrooms' or cannabis and then got to work on the interior decoration.

"Some of the buffaloes in cave paintings do have more than the regulation number of legs," said Mr Cowland.

It is believed that Shamen, or medicine men may have taken hallucinogenic substances as part of a ritual before daubing cave walls with pictures chronicling the day's events.

"Certainly several types of mushrooms were available and cannabis grew like weed. Whether they used is a matter for debate," said Mr Cowland.

The lecture, on May 27 at the university's Centre for Continuing Education, also looks at food and taboos and practices.

Romans, for example, spurned the modern three-course meal for a giant banquet where sweet puddings were laid alongside savoury meals.

"They liked to put all their food on the table at once, making no distinction between first course or pudding," he said.

The lecture will also identify drinking habits through the ages and touch upon the little-known fact that ancient Egyptians behaved badly.!

"There are certainly paintings that show people throwing up after drinking sessions and being attended to by servants," said Mr Cowland.

The lecture, which is open to the public, will end a series of six given by Mr Cowland.

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