Ancient cannabis found in Siberian tomb
The gist
Archaeologists found over 1,400 cannabis seeds and hair traces in a 2,800-year-old Siberian tomb.
The find pushes confirmed psychoactive cannabis use back about three centuries.
How it unfolded
- 2017Gino Caspari and colleagues began working at the tomb site in the Uyuk Valley, southern Siberia.
- 800–760 B.C.Radiocarbon dating of recovered seeds placed the burial in this range, within the early Scythian cultural horizon.
- Around 2,800 years agoMore than 1,400 cannabis seeds were deposited in the tomb, per radiocarbon dating.
Key terms
- kurgan
- A type of burial mound built over a grave, often containing a single body with grave goods, weapons, and horses.
- Scythians
- An ancient Eastern Iranic equestrian nomadic people of the Pontic Steppe known for horseback archery and goldwork.
- radiocarbon dating
- A method of determining the age of organic material by measuring its radioactive carbon-14 content.
Source: Wikipedia