Cannabis was used for its psychoactive properties nearly 2,800 years ago, according to new archaeological research conducted in southern Siberia. An international team led by researchers from the University of Bern and the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology discovered evidence of cannabis use in a princely tomb belonging to members of the ancient Scythian society.
Published in the journal Science, the study combines the analysis of preserved cannabis seeds and molecular traces found in human hair. The findings provide the oldest directly dated archaeological evidence currently available of cannabis being used for its intoxicating effects.
Ancient Scythian Tomb Reveals Evidence of Cannabis Use
The research focused on a burial site in the Republic of Tyva in southern Siberia, associated with high-ranking members of the Scythians, a horse-riding culture that inhabited the Eurasian steppe.
Archaeologists recovered approximately 1,000 cannabis seeds from the tomb. Researchers directly dated six of these seeds using radiocarbon analysis, with the results, alongside other dating evidence, indicating that they were placed in the grave during the early eighth century BC.
The discovery suggests that cannabis held significance in the burial rituals of the Scythian elite.
“The seeds show that cannabis played an important role in the rituals surrounding the burial,” says Dr Gino Caspari, an archaeologist at the University of Bern and the study’s lead author.
However, the presence of cannabis seeds alone could not establish whether the plant was consumed for its psychoactive effects. Cannabis has historically served several purposes, including the production of fibre and oil, making it difficult to determine its specific use from archaeological remains.
To investigate further, the researchers examined preserved human hair recovered from the central burial chamber.
Human Hair Analysis Identifies Traces of Cannabis Compounds
The analysis revealed molecular traces consistent with cannabinol (CBN) in several hair samples. CBN can form through the oxidation of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary intoxicating compound in cannabis.
Researchers also detected weaker chemical signals consistent with THC. These findings were obtained using high-resolution mass spectrometry and other analytical techniques.
The combination of cannabis seeds and chemical traces in human hair provided stronger evidence that the plant was used for its intoxicating properties rather than exclusively for practical purposes.
“This study is particularly insightful because it combines the analysis of plant remains with molecular traces in the human body,” says Caspari.
Nevertheless, the researchers caution that the findings cannot establish how much cannabis was consumed or how its active compounds entered the body. The evidence does not confirm whether the individuals inhaled cannabis smoke or consumed the plant through ingestion.
Later archaeological discoveries in Central Asia have revealed cannabinoid residues in vessels and on heated stones, providing clearer evidence of inhalation practices at other sites.
“The molecular traces in the hair and the cannabis seeds come from the same grave and suggest that cannabis was used for its intoxicating properties,” says Caspari.
Cannabis Appeared in Elaborate Scythian Burial Rituals
The researchers also examined the wider archaeological context of the burial. The princely tomb contained evidence of elaborate funerary practices involving numerous animal sacrifices and possible human sacrifices.
In earlier research, the team identified the remains of 18 horses that had been arranged on the burial mound. Subsequent excavations uncovered several dozen additional horse sacrifices, along with scattered human bones.
The discovery of cannabis seeds and molecular traces in human hair adds another dimension to understanding the rituals and practices of the Scythian elite.
Researchers believe the findings demonstrate the importance of combining different scientific methods to investigate how ancient societies used plants that rarely survive in the archaeological record.
DNA Research Could Reveal More About Cannabis Domestication
Although the study establishes early evidence of cannabis use for its intoxicating effects, several questions remain unanswered. Researchers have not determined the THC concentration of the ancient plants or whether Scythian communities deliberately selected or cultivated varieties with higher levels of psychoactive compounds.
The team has begun sequencing DNA from some of the recovered plant samples. The researchers report that the genetic material has been exceptionally well preserved, potentially allowing them to investigate the history of cannabis domestication and its spread across different regions.
“We have already begun sequencing some of the plant samples,” says Caspari. “DNA preservation is excellent in this case. This will help us learn more about the history of the domestication and spread of this crop soon.”
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