Science is Fun Fridays!

Archaeologists investigated a 2,800 year old monumental tomb in Siberia, where they found several log coffins in the royal mound.  On top of the coffins were horse skeletons, which represented a "spectral cavalcade" of Scythian funeral tradition.

They also found piles of tiny seeds, which turned out to be Cannabis ruderalis.

Researchers were able to test hair samples of the mummies and found chemical traces.

But was it used for intoxication, or perhaps a calming agent for those about to be sacrificed....

It does change the timeline previously established for when the psychoactive properties became known.  Greek historian Herodotus noted Scythian nomads inhaling fumes from burning hemp seeds back in the 5th century BC, the same era from which evidence of use was found in China.

Carbon dating of these seeds indicates they're from 800-760 BC. 

Of course, the plant has been cultivated for thousands of years for ropes and textiles, also as an oilseed crop.