2,700-year-old Blonde Stoner Tomb Found In China

[bassrique]

2,700-year-old marijuana found in Chinese tomb TheStar.com - sciencetech - 2,700-year-old marijuana found in Chinese tomb

Stash seems to have been intended for buried shaman to use in the afterlife

November 27, 2008
Dean Beeby
THE CANADIAN PRESS

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/printArticle/544684

At first I was surprised to read about a blue-eyed blonde cat living in China nearly 3,000 years ago, but then I used a map:

http://www.brettdavenport.com/photos...Turpan_Map.jpg

Makes more sense now.

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

Really? Up there in the cold?

I wonder if they had Twinkies, Ring Dings, Devil Dogs and Yodels back then?

[steve21]

Mmm... 789 grams of 2700 year old dank.

[username n/a]

Oh dude I wanna smoke that **** so bad.

[GeneralElectric]

Originally Posted by username n/a

Oh dude I wanna smoke that **** so bad.

Aren't you like 15 years old and yet to hit puberty?

[bassrique]

I wonder what this dude was like.... what did he look like? What did he wear? Was he a real go-getter?.... a laid back slacker? What kind of hobbies did he have? Being so close to Russia, I wonder what his favorite drink was?

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

Aren't you like 15 years old and yet to hit puberty?

He also got suspended from school for getting caught with pot at school. I wonder how they are going to "test" it.

lowsound

[Croox]

I'll man up and hit it, we gonna use an evaporator or roll it?

[Jerose]

Righteous, man... effin' like... righteous.

[TheDarkReaver]

One of the scientists has to skin up with the stuff. I mean...it's got to be tempting to see what such an old stash is like.

[MysticMichael]

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.

Light-haired, blue-eyed, Caucasian stoner, eh? Ya know what I think? I think Bill & Ted went back in time to party down with the ancient Chinese...and Bill (that dufus!) got himself stranded there!





MM

[Thunderscreech]

Originally Posted by Croox

I'll man up and hit it, we gonna use an evaporator or roll it?

Evaporator might be better, given the age.

[steamthief]

I read the title of this thread and expected to see Jeff Spicoli.

[IconBasser]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

Light-haired, blue-eyed, Caucasian stoner, eh? Ya know what I think? I think Bill & Ted went back in time to party down with the ancient Chinese...and Bill (that dufus!) got himself stranded there!





MM

oh dude, that is AWESOME! Why didn't I think of it?

[TheDarkReaver]

[doctorjazz]

The most important question: are these some dank little antique Christmas trees, or some biblical-era schwag we're dealing with?

[crimson_basser]

hmmmmm

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by doctorjazz

The most important question: are these some dank little antique Christmas trees, or some biblical-era schwag we're dealing with?

Thank god someone here has his head on straight.

[Valerus]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

Aren't you like 15 years old and yet to hit puberty?

owned

[steve21]

Originally Posted by doctorjazz

The most important question: are these some dank little antique Christmas trees, or some biblical-era schwag we're dealing with?

Dude, it better be dank.

If they're putting this kinda effort and this stuff it isn't enough to blow up Cheech and Chong after a single bong rip (respectively, of course) then it's not worth it.

[vene-nemesis]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

Light-haired, blue-eyed, Caucasian stoner, eh? Ya know what I think? I think Bill & Ted went back in time to party down with the ancient Chinese...and Bill (that dufus!) got himself stranded there!





MM

Oh primus performs on that movie!