{
  "id": 18734674,
  "title": "Study Finds Evidence of Cannabis Use 2,800 Years Ago",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/study-finds-evidence-of-cannabis-use-2-800-years-ago",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-07T15:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MedPage Today",
    "slug": "medpage-today",
    "url": "https://www.medpagetoday.com/psychiatry/generalpsychiatry/123750"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Evidence of cannabis use dating back 2,800 years has been discovered by archaeologists who conducted a dig at a monumental tomb in Siberia. The findings suggest that cannabis consumption may have occurred at least 300 years earlier than previously known in neighboring China. According to Gino Caspari, an archaeologist at the University of Bern, the discovery provides insight into the role of cannabis in ancient societies. However, it remains unclear whether the cannabis was consumed through inhalation or ingestion. The excavation, which took place from 2017 to 2018 at the Tunnug 1 site in southern Siberia, yielded tiny black spots that turned out to be cannabis seeds alongside preserved human hair. Radiocarbon dating helped establish the time of origin, and the seeds were found deposited within the tomb, indicating their significance to the community. While some independent experts have expressed skepticism about the study's findings, others appreciate the methodological approach used to identify the consumption of psychoactive substances through toxicological hair analysis.",
  "summary": "(MedPage Today) -- People may have been getting high off cannabis earlier than previously thought -- at least 2,800 years ago, a new study suggests. Archaeologists who led a dig at a monumental tomb in Siberia said they turned up evidence of...",
  "key_points": [
    "Archaeologists unearth cannabis seeds from 2,800-year-old tomb in Siberia",
    "Seeds found alongside preserved human hair, indicating cultural significance",
    "Radiocarbon dating confirms ancient cannabis use predates Chinese records"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}