Researchers excavating a 460-foot-wide mound in the Uyuk Valley recovered over 1,400 cannabis seeds alongside braids of human hair bearing cannabinoid residues. The massive tomb, built from larch logs, clay, and tons of stone, housed high-ranking Scythian individuals adorned with distinctive animal-style gold artifacts. Analysis suggests the psychoactive substances were likely inhaled during elaborate funerary ceremonies that involved sacrificing dozens of people and horses. Scientists are currently performing genetic sequencing on the surviving seeds to understand more about the ancient plant varieties.
Key points
The discovery represents the oldest known direct evidence of humans using cannabis specif…: The discovery represents the oldest known direct evidence of humans using cannabis specifically for its intoxicating effects.
The physical evidence of surface sacrifices supports ancient written accounts recorded by…: The physical evidence of surface sacrifices supports ancient written accounts recorded by the Greek historian Herodotus regarding steppe nomads.
Ongoing genetic sequencing of the recovered seeds will offer deeper scientific insights i…: Ongoing genetic sequencing of the recovered seeds will offer deeper scientific insights into the biology of ancient cannabis specimens.
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Nov 5 : A Siberian burial mound from the ancient Scythian culture dating to 2,800 years ago has yielded the oldest-known evidence for the use of cannabis for its mind-altering effects, with scientists finding its seeds among the grave goods and human hair bearing its chemical signatures inside the tomb.
Researchers said the evidence was unearthed in a monumental burial structure, around 460 feet (140 meters) in diameter, located in the Uyuk Valley of Russia's remote Republic of Tyva. The tomb in southern Siberia was the last resting place of high-ranking members of Scythian society, known for its expertise in horseback warfare and gold craftsmanship, and its relatively nomadic lifestyle across the Eurasian steppe.
Cannabis is a versatile plant that has been used and domesticated for thousands of years not only for psychoactive purposes — getting high — but also for its fiber and oilseed production. It is one of today's most commonly used intoxicants. But figuring out the history of its psychoactive use has been difficult because of the perishable nature of plant remains."There is a lot of speculation…
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