In the present study the relation between nicotine and cotinine concentrations of prehistoric skeletons and mummies from Africa and Europe was investigated. In addition also bone samples obtained at autopsies of recent humans (smokers and nonsmokers) were investigated. The results show that the ratio between nicotine and cotinine (cotinine in % of nicotine) varies between O and 78.9 in historic bone and between 6 and 1700 in recent bone samples. The ratio suggests the origin and reasons of the nicotine use: low ratios seem to indicate a post mortem application, e.g. during embalming.