2,700 year-old marijuana found in tomb

[Kirby]

OTTAWA – Researchers say they have located the world's oldest stash of marijuana, in a tomb in a remote part of China.

The cache of cannabis is about 2,700 years old and was clearly ``cultivated for psychoactive purposes," rather than as fibre for clothing or as food, says a research paper in the Journal of Experimental Botany.

The 789 grams of dried cannabis was buried alongside a light-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian man, likely a shaman of the Gushi culture, near Turpan in northwestern China.

The extremely dry conditions and alkaline soil acted as preservatives, allowing a team of scientists to carefully analyze the stash, which still looked green though it had lost its distinctive odour.

"To our knowledge, these investigations provide the oldest documentation of cannabis as a pharmacologically active agent," says the newly published paper, whose lead author was American neurologist Dr. Ethan B. Russo.

Remnants of cannabis have been found in ancient Egypt and other sites, and the substance has been referred to by authors such as the Greek historian Herodotus. But the tomb stash is the oldest so far that could be thoroughly tested for its properties.

The 18 researchers, most of them based in China, subjected the cannabis to a battery of tests, including carbon dating and genetic analysis. Scientists also tried to germinate 100 of the seeds found in the cache, without success.

The marijuana was found to have a relatively high content of THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis, but the sample was too old to determine a precise percentage.

Researchers also could not determine whether the cannabis was smoked or ingested, as there were no pipes or other clues in the tomb of the shaman, who was about 45 years old.

The large cache was contained in a leather basket and in a wooden bowl, and was likely meant to be used by the shaman in the afterlife.

"This materially is unequivocally cannabis, and no material has previously had this degree of analysis possible," Russo said in an interview from Missoula, Mont.

"It was common practice in burials to provide materials needed for the afterlife. No hemp or seeds were provided for fabric or food. Rather, cannabis as medicine or for visionary purposes was supplied."

The tomb also contained bridles, archery equipment and a harp, confirming the man's high social standing.

Russo is a full-time consultant with GW Pharmaceuticals, which makes Sativex, a cannabis-based medicine approved in Canada for pain linked to multiple sclerosis and cancer.

The company operates a cannabis-testing laboratory at a secret location in southern England to monitor crop quality for producing Sativex, and allowed Russo use of the facility for tests on 11 grams of the tomb cannabis.

Researchers needed about 10 months to cut red tape barring the transfer of the cannabis to England from China, Russo said.

The inter-disciplinary study was published this week by the British-based botany journal, which uses independent reviewers to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of all submitted papers.

The substance has been found in two of the 500 Gushi tombs excavated so far in northwestern China, indicating that cannabis was either restricted for use by a few individuals or was administered as a medicine to others through shamans, Russo said.

"It certainly does indicate that cannabis has been used by man for a variety of purposes for thousands of years."

Russo, who had a neurology practice for 20 years, has previously published studies examining the history of cannabis.

"I hope we can avoid some of the political liabilities of the issue," he said, referring to his latest paper.

The region of China where the tomb is located, Xinjiang, is considered an original source of many cannabis strains worldwide.

http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/544684

Who here wouldn't smoke 2,700 year old hash?

 

[midwestganja]

Wow now thats cool,

Any potency report??!!?! hahaha

 

[Kirby]

"This shit will take you back 2700 years."

 

[Moppel]

Now thats what i call a good cure....

 

[billy_big_bud!]

damn! i was gonna post that! mmmmm nugs of history.........

 

[chuckyoufarley]

what moppel said hahahaha

 

[MickTheBrag]

i hear theres a whole load of new strains waiting to be discovered out in china.
maybe its time some of those dutch breeders took a seed searching expedition to the far east and got us some new tokeables. bet theres some nice INDICAS just sitting on a mountain side doing nothing. when they could be filling my bowls. just a passing thought man. peace

 

[bleezie]

i really wonder how the high is...pretty sure its gonna be really different.

 

[Moppel]

i really wonder how the high is...pretty sure its gonna be really different.

pretty old fashioned , i guess.....

 

[NickMode]

i wonder if it would be weaker quality when grown.

would be super awesome if some of those seeds would geminate, and if they did, very unlikely any breeders could get their hands on some.

 

[Linenoise]

The marijuana was found to have a relatively high content of THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis, but the sample was too old to determine a precise percentage.

I thought TCH degraded rather quickly. I assume it is the dry air and acidic soil that slowed down the process. Perhaps there is some handy data to be used, for storing marijuana long term.

 

[sirgrassalot]

Well we know one thing, you can't take it with yah.

 

[Stoner4Life]

Researchers needed about 10 months to cut red tape barring the transfer of the cannabis to England from China, Russo said.

actually they only had to come here to find out how to get it safely to the UK.

 

[B.C.]

Wow, cool!

Wow, cool!

I read an artical a few years ago, in Nat Geo I think? That they found a princess ina an egptian tomb that had died giving birth because her birthing cannal was too small. Next to her was a type of hashish and a pipe believed ta be smoked for pain. The egptians took the baby out, embalmed it and the mother, and put it back in. Making mummy out of the mommy.( I know, that was bad ) lol I don't think even hash wouldn't have helped that poor girl from dieing a -very- painful death tho. Whada way to die eh? Anyhoo, very interesting story Kirby, thanks fer sharing. Take care... BC

 

[LiLWaynE]

Russo is a full-time consultant with GW Pharmaceuticals, which makes Sativex, a cannabis-based medicine approved in Canada for pain linked to multiple sclerosis and cancer.

sounds to me like one well thought out way to get some publicity....

 

[DogBoy]

CNN reported this morning that he had been charged retroactively with possession with intent to supply. Det. Ivan Ego stated " The war on drugs has seen a major boost in historic crime clearup this morning when a 45 year old mumy was charged for possession of nearly a kilo of bud ( Street value $104.3 million USD ). We are proud to have been able to finally remove this suspect from our list of suspected dealers and will be taking his family, future and belongings at the first chance we get. Residents in the area can now sleep safely knowing we have got another scumbag off the streets. "

So we can all sleep safely knowing that the worlds first dealer has been persecuted! Yay! lol

 

[Joe Hawkins]

The pot is 2700 yrs old and the guy they found it on was 45, sorry but this sounds like a dirty web viral campaign ad for Sativex

And "Xinjiang" is where the famous chinese cooking wine comes from, I think its just a case of lazy creative writing from a bored teenager with poor research skills

 

[HairlessCaveApe]

CNN reported this morning that he had been charged retroactively with possession with intent to supply. Det. Ivan Ego stated " The war on drugs has seen a major boost in historic crime clearup this morning when a 45 year old mumy was charged for possession of nearly a kilo of bud ( Street value $104.3 million USD ). We are proud to have been able to finally remove this suspect from our list of suspected dealers and will be taking his family, future and belongings at the first chance we get. Residents in the area can now sleep safely knowing we have got another scumbag off the streets. "

So we can all sleep safely knowing that the worlds first dealer has been persecuted! Yay! lol

They had no rite bustin in there on him like that in the first place. 4th amendment. Theyl prolly hold him for 9 fukkin months anyhow. Hey Mummy Shaman...! Getcher ass into the law library rite away! Lern the form and start filin your own motions. Send coppies to the DA, Apointed judge, Motions counter, and your own court appointed lawyer/or pd. Thats the best advice I can give ya Mummy Dude.

 

[Cascadia]

I wonder if they all smoked it, or if only the shaman was allowed?

 

[Storm Crow]

I don't know about the Shaman's people, but among the Sythians, it was used both recreationally and ceremonially. For ceremonial use the Sythians would make a sweat lodge from the hides of white horses and would place whole buds "the size of a man's hand", on the central heated rocks. (The world's first vaporizer and "hot boxing" combined!) They would come out "howling for joy", or sometimes just have a nice chat with the Moon/Horse Goddess (white horses were sacred to her which is why the white hides for the lodge). It was used at funerals and other celebrations. They were "crazy mad" horsemen who did amazingly beautiful gold work. - Granny