'Cannabis burned during worship' by ancient Israelites - study
Source: BBC
'Cannabis burned during worship' by ancient Israelites - study
29 May 2020
Ancient Israelites burned cannabis as part of their religious rituals, an archaeological study has found.
A well-preserved substance found in a 2,700-year-old temple in Tel Arad has been identified as cannabis, including its psychoactive compound THC.
Researchers concluded that cannabis may have been burned in order to induce a high among worshippers.
This is the first evidence of psychotropic drugs being used in early Jewish worship, Israeli media report.
The temple was first discovered in the Negev desert, about 95km (59 miles) south of Tel Aviv, in the 1960s.
In the latest study, published in Tel Aviv University's archaeological journal, archaeologists say two limestone altars had been buried within the shrine.
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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52847175
Cannabis residue was found on an altar at the temple in Arad (Getty Images)
It's believed cannabis was burned to induce a psychoactive effect in worshippers (Getty Images)
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