Archaeologists Prove Cannabis Was a Staple Food in Ancient China

The accidental discovery in the center of China from the tomb of a soldier from the Tang dynasty (618-907) in which remains of cannabis confirmed that the plant was one of the bases of the population’s diet at that time, according to a new archaeological study.

The finding, which was published by the South China Morning Post, proves that during this peak period of Chinese civilization, cannabis was not only used for stimulant, medicinal and textile purposes, but also for nutritional purposes.

The tomb, belonging to cavalry captain Guo Xing, was located in 2019 during works in the courtyard of an elementary school in Taiyuan (capital of the central province of Shanxi) and having been hidden for 1,320 years, it appeared perfectly preserved and with wall paintings, objects and artifacts intact.

Remains of cannabis were found in one of the pots containing staple foods from the time, including some seeds that still showed their original color and were almost twice the size of their usual size.

The researchers believe that it is Cannabis sativa, a variety native to central Asia with a lower concentration of the psychotropic substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) than that found in modern marijuana.

“The cannabis was stored in a container placed in the coffin along with other basic grains such as millet. It is obvious that the descendants of Guo Xing buried cannabis because it was an important food,” explained Jin Guiyun, professor of history at Shandong University and author of the scientific article in which the find is exposed.

According to Jin and the rest of the academics responsible for the research, cannabis “was buried as food for the feast and good health” of the soldier in the afterlife, and the plant could have had more importance during the powerful Tang empire than the rice, of which there was no trace in the tomb.

Since the 1980s, Chinese archaeologists have identified traces of cannabis in tombs across the country – some more than 6,600 years old – but believed it was used only for ritual purposes to cause hallucinations at religious celebrations.

Although numerous historical texts suggested that this plant could have been an important food source, there was very little archaeological evidence to support this theory, notes the South China Morning Post.

The presence of seeds in the tomb also confirms that cannabis was used for purposes other than food, according to the publication.

In fact, the researchers highlighted that the seed husks, which contain higher levels of THC, had not been removed, which may be due to protecting the seed from mold and prolonging its conservation, but also due to the consumption of the hull ” for religious and medical purposes,” the article states.

Cannabis cultivation is punishable in China today, where marijuana has been banned since the 1950s and drug trafficking can even carry the death penalty.

In recent years, the Chinese government has allowed the planting of “safe” varieties of cannabis with low levels of THC but high levels of cannabidiol, a compound that is not addictive, but has sedative effects.

More widespread is the cultivation of hemp for textile purposes, with a notable increase in plantation areas in the last year, which at the end of 2019 reached 24,400 hectares, according to the latest official figures available.