Shaman's Stash

Recent excavations of the Yanghai tombs near Turpan, China have turned up evidence that the Gushi people in the region cultivated marijuana for medicinal, psychoactive, and divination purposes.

Archaeologists discovered the tomb of a 2700-year old shaman flanked by various materials for use in the afterlife, including a pouch containing 28 ounces of pot, immaculately preserved with the help of dry conditions and alkaline soil. After testing the sample, which had retained its green color, the team of researchers discovered that the strain of Cannabis sativa was selected by humans for its high THC content.

"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," said neurologist Dr. Ethan B. Russo, co-author of a report published in the Journal of Experimental Botany.

Though other ancient remnants of cannabis have been found in archaeological sites around the world, the find at Yanghai is the oldest to date.

Creative Commons Images “spliff#seven” and “spliff#seventyfour” by spliffr on Flickr