Adam Brumm

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Cannabis use in ancient Siberia dated to 2,800 years ago

Calls the sacrifice-sedation hypothesis speculative

A Scythian burial mound in southern Siberia held about 1,000 cannabis seeds. Chemical traces in hair from the same tomb are consistent with people using the plant for its psychoactive compounds around 2,800 years ago.

Updated 3 days ago

Ancient Indonesian skeletons reveal earliest known human drug use

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As of September 2026: Lead researcher on the Sulawesi excavations

Two sets of remains from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi carry teeth worn into deep, rounded grooves and traces of betel nut residue in their dental tissue. One individual lived 25,000 to 16,000 years ago; the other 7,600 to 6,300 years ago.

Updated Sep 11

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The suggestion that cannabis may have been used to calm individuals selected for ritual sacrifice is intriguing, but remains highly speculative.

from Cannabis use in ancient Siberia dated to 2,800 years ago · Updated 3 days ago

Emerging up to 25,000 years ago in Sulawesi, thus long preceding the onset of agriculture, betel nut-sucking may be the earliest evidence for drug use anywhere in the world.

from Ancient Indonesian skeletons reveal earliest known human drug use · Updated Sep 11

So while this habit may have been a remedy for toothache, years of prolonged nut-sucking eventually caused much worse dental health problems, creating a cycle of continued habitual use.

from Ancient Indonesian skeletons reveal earliest known human drug use · Updated Sep 11