This is the first time cannabis has been identified in the Ancient Near East,' said lead author Dr Eran Arie, of the The Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
'Its use in the shrine must have played a central role in the cultic rituals performed there.'
Dr Arie claims the discovery is the earliest evidence of cultic use of cannabis in the world and the first known evidence of hallucinogenic substance found in the Kingdom of Judah.
Since no cannabis seeds or pollen remains have been found, Dr Arie and co author believe the plant was imported from distant origins and transported as dried resin, commonly known as hashish.
'Since the fortress at Arad is rather limited in size, and the courtyard of the shrine might have use for the gathering of all the population of the fortress, one can imagine that everybody who dwelt in the fortress took part in the religious ceremonies in the shrine,' he said.
'However, since the altars were found inside the 'holy of holies' of the shrine, we cannot say for sure how many people were affected from the hallucinogenic effect of the cannabis.'
Tel Arad, an archaeological mound in southern Israel's Negev desert west of the Dead Sea, was a major city and fortress.
Unearthed in the 1960s, it included an outer courtyard and inner 'holy of holies' – an inner sanctuary in the presence of God where animals were slaughtered for sacrifice.
The smaller alter again, from a different view. Both shed new light on cult practices in biblical Judah, suggesting cannabis was used here as a deliberate psychoactive, to stimulate ecstasy as part of cultic ceremonies
Past excavations revealed two superimposed fortresses, dating to the 9th to early 6th centuries BC, which guarded the southern border of the Kingdom of Judah.
Highly important Iron Age finds were unearthed, including a well-preserved shrine that was dated to around 750 to 715 BC.
The altars – the smaller of which is about 15.7 inches high and the larger around 19.6 inches – were found lying at the entrance to the 'holy of holies' of the shrine.
Dark organic material preserved on their surface has been scanned, almost six decades later.
The original 'holy of holies' of the shrine at Arad is on display in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, where it was also sampled for this research
On the smaller altar, a range of cannabinoids – natural compounds in the cannabis plant – had been mixed with animal dung to help the drug burn.
Analysis identified traces of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive constituent that makes users feel 'high', as well as the pain reliever CBD (cannabidiol).
On the larger alter, meanwhile, they found chemical compounds indicative of frankincense, which had been mixed with animal fat to fuel its evaporation.
Frankincense is the resin of the Boswellia sacra – a small tree found in Oman, Yemen and Somalia.
Dr Arie said its presence at Arad also indicates the participation of Judah in the south Arabian trade much earlier than previously believed.
Arad also provides the earliest evidence for frankincense in a clear cultic context, according to the research team.
The fact only one substance was associated with each altar suggests that each was used over again for the same substance, indicating repeated use.
'The plants detected in this study can serve as an extra-biblical source in identifying the incense used in cultic practices not only at Arad but also those elsewhere in Judah, including Jerusalem,' said Dr Arie.
'The Bible only relates to incense for its agreeable fragrance – frankincense is mentioned as a component of the incense that was burnt in the Temple of Jerusalem for its pleasant aroma,' said Dr Arie.
'The presence of cannabis at Arad testifies to the use of mind-altering substances as part of cultic rituals in Judah.'
The findings, including a full list of chemical compounds found on the alters, have been published in the journal Tel Aviv.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/scienc...ish-temple-used-cannabis-analysis-shows.html
'Its use in the shrine must have played a central role in the cultic rituals performed there.'
Dr Arie claims the discovery is the earliest evidence of cultic use of cannabis in the world and the first known evidence of hallucinogenic substance found in the Kingdom of Judah.
Since no cannabis seeds or pollen remains have been found, Dr Arie and co author believe the plant was imported from distant origins and transported as dried resin, commonly known as hashish.
'Since the fortress at Arad is rather limited in size, and the courtyard of the shrine might have use for the gathering of all the population of the fortress, one can imagine that everybody who dwelt in the fortress took part in the religious ceremonies in the shrine,' he said.
'However, since the altars were found inside the 'holy of holies' of the shrine, we cannot say for sure how many people were affected from the hallucinogenic effect of the cannabis.'
Tel Arad, an archaeological mound in southern Israel's Negev desert west of the Dead Sea, was a major city and fortress.
Unearthed in the 1960s, it included an outer courtyard and inner 'holy of holies' – an inner sanctuary in the presence of God where animals were slaughtered for sacrifice.
The smaller alter again, from a different view. Both shed new light on cult practices in biblical Judah, suggesting cannabis was used here as a deliberate psychoactive, to stimulate ecstasy as part of cultic ceremonies
Past excavations revealed two superimposed fortresses, dating to the 9th to early 6th centuries BC, which guarded the southern border of the Kingdom of Judah.
Highly important Iron Age finds were unearthed, including a well-preserved shrine that was dated to around 750 to 715 BC.
The altars – the smaller of which is about 15.7 inches high and the larger around 19.6 inches – were found lying at the entrance to the 'holy of holies' of the shrine.
Dark organic material preserved on their surface has been scanned, almost six decades later.
The original 'holy of holies' of the shrine at Arad is on display in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, where it was also sampled for this research
On the smaller altar, a range of cannabinoids – natural compounds in the cannabis plant – had been mixed with animal dung to help the drug burn.
Analysis identified traces of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive constituent that makes users feel 'high', as well as the pain reliever CBD (cannabidiol).
On the larger alter, meanwhile, they found chemical compounds indicative of frankincense, which had been mixed with animal fat to fuel its evaporation.
Frankincense is the resin of the Boswellia sacra – a small tree found in Oman, Yemen and Somalia.
Dr Arie said its presence at Arad also indicates the participation of Judah in the south Arabian trade much earlier than previously believed.
Arad also provides the earliest evidence for frankincense in a clear cultic context, according to the research team.
The fact only one substance was associated with each altar suggests that each was used over again for the same substance, indicating repeated use.
'The plants detected in this study can serve as an extra-biblical source in identifying the incense used in cultic practices not only at Arad but also those elsewhere in Judah, including Jerusalem,' said Dr Arie.
'The Bible only relates to incense for its agreeable fragrance – frankincense is mentioned as a component of the incense that was burnt in the Temple of Jerusalem for its pleasant aroma,' said Dr Arie.
'The presence of cannabis at Arad testifies to the use of mind-altering substances as part of cultic rituals in Judah.'
The findings, including a full list of chemical compounds found on the alters, have been published in the journal Tel Aviv.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/scienc...ish-temple-used-cannabis-analysis-shows.html
