Ancient humans used cannabis in burial rituals 2,800 years ago
New findings from a Siberian tomb offer the earliest direct evidence for human marijuana use
Ancient humans were using cannabis in burial rituals 2,800 years ago, according to new findings from a Siberian tomb. The earliest direct evidence for human marijuana use has been discovered at a burial mound used by the Scythian people in southern Siberia. Archaeologists unearthed over 1,000 cannabis seeds and human hair from the site, which dated back to between the eighth and ninth centuries B.C.E.
Radiocarbon analysis confirmed the age of the seeds, and the hair contained cannabinol, a chemical produced from THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis. Lead author Gino Caspari of the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology explained that the discovery provides new insights into ancient societies and their cultural legacies.
It challenges modern assumptions about religion, drugs, and the intersection of the two. Caspari's team emphasizes that cannabis has a deep cultural history and could factor into ongoing societal discourse on legalization and medical use.
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