Ancient tomb reveals cannabis use 2,800 years ago

Archaeologists discovered cannabis seeds and preserved human hair in a royal tomb in southern Siberia, dating back approximately 2,800 years. The tomb is part of a burial mound at the Tunnug 1 site, associated with the Scythians, an ancient nomadic people.

The team, consisting of researchers from Germany, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland, conducted the analysis of the hair and seeds. Co-author Gino Caspari of the University of Bern noted that the presence of both plant material and human soft tissue with active compounds is rare.

The study, published in the journal Science, suggests that the cannabis was not merely placed in the tomb as an offering but may have been consumed by individuals linked to the burial ritual. Radiocarbon dating of the seeds helped establish their age and context.

However, some experts have questioned the study's methodology. Volker Auwaerter of the University Medical Center in Freiburg criticized the hair analysis as scientifically weak, arguing that the data does not conclusively prove cannabis use.

Auwaerter pointed out that the study fails to distinguish between consumption and external exposure, meaning the hair could have absorbed cannabis traces simply from being buried with the seeds. He suggested a forensic toxicology test would have provided more reliable results.

Elisa Guerra Doce of the University of Valladolid acknowledged the use of toxicological hair analysis in archaeology but praised the study for demonstrating that cannabis was likely consumed by individuals involved in the burial practices.