Human Hair Solves 3,000-Year-Old Mystery: Did Scythian Kings Use Cannabis?

A new study has revealed the oldest directly dated evidence of "psychoactive cannabis" use in antiquity, through the examination of remains buried within a massive funerary mound in southern Siberia dating back more than 2,700 years.

Rich Royal Tomb with Offerings

The funerary mound known today as "Tunnug 1" is located in the Uyuk Valley, an area sometimes referred to as the "Valley of the Kings" due to its abundance of large Scythian burials.

The site dates back to approximately the early eighth century BCE, making it one of the oldest royal tombs associated with the Scythians, a nomadic people renowned for horse breeding and movement across the Eurasian steppes.

The tomb contained:

- Luxurious grave goods.
- Remains of dozens of sacrificed horses.
- Human remains arranged in notable configurations suggesting complex burial rituals.

Many Seeds... and Hair Reveals the Secret

The study focused on six individuals buried within four wooden structures in the mound. Among the remains, researchers found "more than a thousand cannabis seeds," many of which remained well-preserved despite nearly three millennia passing.

But the surprise was not just in the seeds, but in "preserved human hair" inside the tomb, used for precise chemical analysis. The results showed traces of compounds associated with the psychoactive effects of cannabis, most notably: "Cannabinol (CBN)," a degradation product of "tetrahydrocannabinol" (THC) - the main component responsible for the intoxicating effect in cannabis. In addition, weaker signals consistent with the presence of "THC" itself.

This indicates that those buried were exposed to psychoactive cannabis, likely intentionally.

What Does This Mean?

Researchers believe that the presence of cannabis seeds alongside traces of active substances in hair from the same tomb suggests that cannabis was used "for ritual purposes," rather than merely being present as a plant.

The researchers stated that these rituals may also have been linked to "human and horse sacrifices," which could explain the use of the plant within ceremonies aimed at calming participants or dealing with complex religious and funerary atmospheres.

Despite the significance of the discovery, researchers still do not know:

- How exactly cannabis was used: Was it eaten, inhaled, or smoked?.
- Whether it was grown locally or brought from elsewhere.
- The precise role it played in funerary rituals.

Significance of the Discovery

The research team says these findings not only add a new chapter to the history of cannabis, but also reveal how ancient societies experimented with natural substances and integrated them into their religious and social rituals.