August 9, 2024 - The results represent “the first known evidence of hallucinogenic substance found in the Kingdom of Judah” and “the earliest evidence for the use of cannabis in the Ancient Near East,” according to a paper published on Thursday in the ...

June 2, 2020 - At the time of the discovery, archaeologists noticed the black splotches on the limestone surfaces, but analysis of this residue led to inconclusive results. A new chemical analysis, conducted by researchers at Israel’s Hebrew University and Technion Institute, yielded traces of THC and CBD at sufficient amounts required to bring about an altered mental state. This is now the earliest evidence of cannabis use in the Judahite region and the first evidence of psychoactive substance use in the region. “The presence of cannabis at Arad testifies to the use of mind-altering substances as part of cultic rituals in Judah,” wrote the authors, which included Dvory Namdar from the Volcani Institute and Baruch Rosen, an independent researcher.

The additional presence of animal fat―in related compounds such as testosterone, androstene and cholesterol―suggests that resin was mixed with it to facilitate evaporation. These well-preserved residues shed new light on the use of 8th century ...

September 30, 2021 - According to new research published in the journal, Tel Aviv, the “holy of holies” shrine dates back to 750-715 BCE. As the researchers—Eran Arie, Baruch Rosen, and Dvory Namdar—write, the ritual usage appears to be hallucinogenic.

June 4, 2020 - The smaller of the two altars was ... fumes high, per Science News. The residue on the larger altar was composed of animal fats and frankincense, the dried sap of trees in the Boswellia genus, according to the paper...

May 29, 2020 - Israeli researchers have analyzed organic residues from two altars of the 8th century BC shrine at the Biblical fortress of Arad and found that one of them contained frankincense that was mixed with animal fat for evaporation; on the other altar, ...

May 29, 2020 - Material on the smaller limestone altar from the Iron Age-era shrine, believed to have been in use from around 760 to 715 BCE, contained cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), along with an unspecified animal dung likely used to ...

June 1, 2020 - The additional presence of animal fat―in related compounds such as testosterone, androstene and cholesterol―suggests that resin was mixed with it to facilitate evaporation. These well-preserved residues shed new light on the use of 8th century ...

June 1, 2020 - An ancient biblical tribe in Israel likely used marijuana to produce hallucinogenic effects as part of cultic rituals, according to a new study that identified cannabis resin on an alter in a shrine built around 750 BCE.

May 28, 2020 - The additional presence of animal fat―in related compounds such as testosterone, androstene and cholesterol―suggests that resin was mixed with it to facilitate evaporation. These well-preserved residues shed new light on the use of 8th century ...

June 18, 2020 - The dung and marijuana mixture allowed the cannabis to burn rather slowly at a relatively low temperature, allowing for multiple worshippers to inhale the mixture’s smoke. The frankincense likely was burned on the second altar because it releases its aroma best at a higher temperature, and the residue found there included animal fat, which would have generated the necessary temperature.

May 29, 2020 - The frankincense likely was at a separate altar because it releases its aroma best when burned at high temperatures—the residue there included animal fat, which would raised the temperature to the desired level.

March 13, 2026 - Past analysis of these materials failed to identify their content and this dark material was recently submitted to organic residue analysis by modern methods. The study reveals that on the smaller altar cannabis had been mixed with animal dung to facilitate heating, while the larger altar contained traces of frankincense that was mixed with animal fat to promote evaporation.

June 3, 2020 - This constitutes the first-ever ... good at burning it. This is based on how it was burned. The frankincense, on the first altar, had been mixed with animal fat....

June 2, 2020 - In a research paper, the authors say the discovery from an eighth-century BC shrine at Tel Arad offers the first proof for the use of mind-altering substances as part of cultic rituals in Judah, including the first Jewish Temple that stood in ...

July 20, 2020 - In fact, it has been happening for thousands of years, as Israeli archaeologists claim to have found cannabis residue on an ancient temple's artifacts located in southern Israel. This discovery is significant because it marks the first evidence ...

June 29, 2023 - The tests revealed that the material on the altars included frankincense and cannabis, commonly known as marijuana.