Science
Swiss-linked research finds evidence of cannabis use 2,800 years ago
Researchers with Swiss involvement found traces of cannabis compounds in the hair of people buried in a princely tomb in southern Siberia around 2,800 years ago. More than 1,000 hemp seeds were also found at the site.
Traces in ancient hair link cannabis to people buried in a princely tomb in southern Siberia around 2,800 years ago. Researchers with Swiss involvement identified cannabis compounds in hair samples from the burials. More than 1,000 hemp seeds were also found at the site, adding a second line of evidence connected to the plant.
Trace the compounds in ancient hair
The hair samples carry chemical traces associated with cannabis. Their analysis points to the plant’s use among people buried in the tomb around 2,800 years ago. The finding places evidence of cannabis in a funerary context in southern Siberia, linking the compounds to individuals whose remains were recovered at the site.
Count the seeds at the site
More than 1,000 hemp seeds were found at the same site. The seeds provide archaeological evidence alongside the compounds identified in hair. Together, the finds connect cannabis to the people buried in the tomb and the material recovered from their burial place.
Connect Swiss research to Siberian finds
The research has a Swiss connection, while its archaeological evidence comes from southern Siberia. Researchers with Swiss involvement examined hair from the tomb burials, where cannabis compounds were detected. The site’s more than 1,000 hemp seeds add another concrete finding to the account of cannabis around 2,800 years ago.