Earliest use of Cannabis ?

poonman

poonman

Well-Known Member
I came across this news item this morning , and thought it was interesting .
As humans , we have evolved , but it seems we have been chasing this
Elixir for as long as we've been on earth .

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/offbe...2400-year-old-gold-bongs-in-russia/ar-BBkoTfL


Analysis on a sticky black residue in the golden cups revealed the objects were used to hold a concoction of opium and cannabis, which mirror the writings of Greek historian Herodotus, who said: “Scythians used a plant to produce smoke that no Grecian vapour-bath can surpass which made them shout aloud.”
 
chimpybits

chimpybits

Well-Known Member
poonman said:
I came across this news item this morning , and thought it was interesting .
As humans , we have evolved , but it seems we have been chasing this
Elixir for as long as we've been on earth .

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/offbe...2400-year-old-gold-bongs-in-russia/ar-BBkoTfL


Analysis on a sticky black residue in the golden cups revealed the objects were used to hold a concoction of opium and cannabis, which mirror the writings of Greek historian Herodotus, who said: “Scythians used a plant to produce smoke that no Grecian vapour-bath can surpass which made them shout aloud.”
Click to expand...
Yeah I came across that article yesterday. This is of the time of the the oldest written record of cannabis usage (according to Wikipedia), but there is evidence of earlier use of cannabis as a pharmacologically active agent. Wiki excerpts:
The oldest written record of cannabis usage is the Greek historian Herodotus's reference to the central Eurasian Scythians taking cannabis steam baths. His (c. 440 BCE) Histories records, "The Scythians, as I said, take some of this hemp-seed [presumably, flowers], and, creeping under the felt coverings, throw it upon the red-hot stones; immediately it smokes, and gives out such a vapour as no Grecian vapour-bath can exceed; the Scyths, delighted, shout for joy."
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The oldest documentation of cannabis as a pharmacologically active agent:
The Yanghai Tombs, a vast ancient cemetery (54 000 m2) situated in the Turfan district of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, have revealed the 2700-year-old grave of a shaman. He is thought to have belonged to the Jushi culture recorded in the area centuries later in the Hanshu, Chap 96B. Near the head and foot of the shaman was a large leather basket and wooden bowl filled with 789g of cannabis, superbly preserved by climatic and burial conditions. An international team demonstrated that this material contained tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of cannabis. The cannabis was presumably employed by this culture as a medicinal or psychoactive agent, or an aid to divination.
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Been Vapin

Been Vapin

Fringe Class
Ithe Sycthians, descendants of ancient nomadic Aryan tribes of Central Asia,may have been the first migrants to bring cannabis to India and Persia from Central Asia. They used Cannabis as a decrement during funeral rituals long time before the birth of Christ, although it remains whether Cannabis was used by the Synthians for its psychoactive effects.
The Greek historian Herodotus (c.500 B.C.) reported they burned Cannabis seeds in censers filled with hit rocks and enclosed within a small tent of hides suspended over several wooden legs. As cited by Hyams:


They make a booth by fixing in the ground three sticks inclined towards one another, and stretching around them woolen felts which they arrange so as to fit as close as possible: inside the booth a dish is placed upon the ground into which they out a number of red hot stones and then add some hemp seed..immediately it smokes, and gives out such a vapor as no Grecian vapor bath can exceed; and the Scythe, delighted, shout for joy.


There is also speculation Neolithic humans discovered the eurphoic effects of Cannabis.
 
chimpybits

chimpybits

Well-Known Member
Eschient said:
I wouldn't be surprised if we were using it in one form or another since before we walked upright.
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Perhaps, though afawk the oldest use of the plant is as Hemp, which has been grown for a mere 12,000 years for fiber.

Alcohol is another story. Quite recently researchers have discovered evidence suggesting that hominids began ingesting alcohol around the time we began walking upright around 10 millions years ago. The timing of this mutation coincided with early hominids choosing to live on the ground rather than in the trees, which the team suggested could have occurred to help early humans make the best out of rotting fruit that had fallen onto the forest floor.

The researchers focused on a specific enzyme – ADH4. Enzymes allow chemical reactions to proceed at a faster rate, and ADH4 is one of the first enzymes in the body that encounters ethanol, and begins metabolising it. Researchers found that around ten million years ago, the genes that code for ADH4 underwent a change that made ethanol processing 40 times more efficient. It’s not clear why, but it is possibly due to consuming fermented fruit.
 
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syrupy

syrupy

Authorized Buyer
Animals were using it before man thought anything of it. I would guess 20 or 30,000 BCE.
 
syrupy,
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CarolKing

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
2,400-Year-Old Ancient Gold Bongs Unearthed In Russia
By Guneet Bhatia @Guneet_B on June 01 2015 4:12 PM EDT



drone-archaeology.jpg

A Scythian gold hoard has been unearthed in southern Russia. Meanwhile, remote-controlled aircraft are providing new opportunities for archaeologists all over the world. Pictured, a Peruvian archaeologist flies a drone over the archaeological site of Cerro Chepen in 2013. Reuters
A team of archaeologists has discovered a pair of gold "bongs," or water pipes, in southern Russia. The artifacts, which are made of pure gold, are believed to be around 2,400 years old.

According to the archaeologists, tribal chiefs used the ancient paraphernalia to smoke opium and cannabis. The artifacts were unearthed along with several other items made up of gold, totalling seven pounds. They were discovered in southern Russia while the land was being dug up to erect power lines, reported the Tech Times.

The archaeologists believe the pair of treasures belonged to the Scythians, a nomadic people who ruled over a vast area from Eastern Europe to Central Asia from the 9th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D. They did not leave permanent settlements but constructed great burial mounds called kurgans, which still exist from the Black Sea to Mongolia.

Historians say the Scythians would smoke opium and cannabis before going into battle to achieve an altered state of mind.

All the artifacts, including the golden bongs, neck rings, rings and jewels, have been collected for display at a Russian museum. Archaeologist Anton Gass says they constitute one of the finest discoveries so far from the region. The discovery was made in 2013, but was kept secret to prevent looting.
 
CarolKing,
chimpybits

chimpybits

Well-Known Member
CarolKing said:
2,400-Year-Old Ancient Gold Bongs Unearthed In Russia
By Guneet Bhatia @Guneet_B on June 01 2015 4:12 PM EDT


drone-archaeology.jpg

A Scythian gold hoard has been unearthed in southern Russia. Meanwhile, remote-controlled aircraft are providing new opportunities for archaeologists all over the world. Pictured, a Peruvian archaeologist flies a drone over the archaeological site of Cerro Chepen in 2013. Reuters
A team of archaeologists has discovered a pair of gold "bongs," or water pipes, in southern Russia. The artifacts, which are made of pure gold, are believed to be around 2,400 years old.

According to the archaeologists, tribal chiefs used the ancient paraphernalia to smoke opium and cannabis. The artifacts were unearthed along with several other items made up of gold, totalling seven pounds. They were discovered in southern Russia while the land was being dug up to erect power lines, reported the Tech Times.

The archaeologists believe the pair of treasures belonged to the Scythians, a nomadic people who ruled over a vast area from Eastern Europe to Central Asia from the 9th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D. They did not leave permanent settlements but constructed great burial mounds called kurgans, which still exist from the Black Sea to Mongolia.

Historians say the Scythians would smoke opium and cannabis before going into battle to achieve an altered state of mind.

All the artifacts, including the golden bongs, neck rings, rings and jewels, have been collected for display at a Russian museum. Archaeologist Anton Gass says they constitute one of the finest discoveries so far from the region. The discovery was made in 2013, but was kept secret to prevent looting.
Click to expand...
Hi CK, I assume you're adding to the story from the original post of this thread??
 
chimpybits,
CarolKing

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
I saw the post that I had from above on another website. From a dispensary - sorry if it was the same from the original post. I was going to put this elsewhere and then I saw the topic on this thread.

I didn't notice it was the same. Too late to delete.
 
jojo monkey

jojo monkey

Well-Known Member
Manufacturer
HellsWindStaff

HellsWindStaff

Dharma Initiate
Something I had heard often, was that the Hashashin's of ancient Persia, used to utilize hash before going out and killing.

Hasashin = Assassin

Did a bit of research prior to posting, it's somewhat considered a myth or theory, although it was documented by Marco Polo.....who knows how reliable a narrator he was lol.
 
Nesta

Nesta

Well-Known Member
HellsWindStaff said:
Something I had heard often, was that the Hashashin's of ancient Persia, used to utilize hash before going out and killing.

Hasashin = Assassin

Did a bit of research prior to posting, it's somewhat considered a myth or theory, although it was documented by Marco Polo.....who knows how reliable a narrator he was lol.
Click to expand...
I've heard this too but now I'm wondering if these accounts of assassination/killing aren't revisionist history. I wouldn't be surprised if these brutal stories are total fabrications, part of the Reefer Madness era propaganda.
 
Nesta,
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