World · India Bureau
Ancient cannabis use in Siberia pushed back 300 years, study finds
Archaeological research has revealed evidence that humans were consuming cannabis in Siberia approximately 2,800 years ago, significantly earlier than previously documented. The findings challenge existing timelines of the plant's use and suggest ancient peoples had access to cannabis far earlier than scholars had believed.
LSN India ·
A comprehensive study examining archaeological evidence from Siberia has uncovered traces of cannabis consumption dating back roughly 2,800 years, pushing back the earliest known human use of the plant by three centuries. The research provides fresh insights into the historical relationship between ancient societies and cannabis, suggesting the substance was more widely accessible and utilized than previously thought.
The discovery was made through detailed analysis of archaeological sites in the Siberian region, where researchers identified physical evidence consistent with cannabis use during that era. This timeline predates previously established records by approximately 300 years, according to the study findings.
The research indicates that cannabis was not merely a recent discovery for human civilizations but rather formed part of the broader botanical knowledge and consumption practices of ancient peoples across Eurasia. Experts suggest that the plant may have held cultural, medicinal, or ritualistic significance for these early societies.
The findings add to growing archaeological evidence demonstrating that cannabis has a deep history intertwined with human civilization across multiple continents and time periods. As researchers continue to examine ancient sites, they are uncovering an increasingly complex picture of how early human communities interacted with various plants.