The larger altar contained an assemblage of indicative triterpenes such as boswellic acid and norursatriene, which derives from frankincense. The additional presence of animal fat―in related compounds such as testosterone, androstene and cholesterol―suggests that resin was mixed with it ...

June 2, 2025 - 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 1, 2020 - Israel Antiquities Authority, Photo ... site in the Negev desert known as Tel Arad, archaeologists excavating an ancient Jewish shrine have found traces of burnt cannabis and frankincense on a pair of limestone altars, reports Kristen Rogers of CNN....

Much of the above is a recreation at the site—the original altars and stairs are were transported to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, where the Tel Arad shrine has been recreated. ... Judahite worshipers in a temple at Tel Arad burned cannabis as part of their ritual worship some 2,700 years ago, ...

January 31, 2022 - Judahite Shrine of Tel Arad from ... Marijuana residues were found at the shrine of Tel Arad. The residues from two altars were analyzed at two labs, revealing Frankincense and, on one altar, Marijuana mixed with dung....

May 29, 2020 - Frankincense was found on one altar, which was unsurprising because of its prominence in holy texts, the study's authors told Israeli newspaper Haaretz. However, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) - all compounds found in cannabis - were found on the second altar.

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, cannabis substance was mixed with animal dung ...

May 28, 2020 - Inside the site, there is a shrine devoted to Yahweh, the Hebrew name of God used in the Bible. Analysis of the materials on two altars, now housed in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, found they contained cannabis and frankincense, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Tel Aviv.

May 26, 2020 - 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.

April 27, 2023 - 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.

May 28, 2020 - Chemical analyses reveal a residue of cannabis and animal dung on an altar from a biblical-era fortress in use more than 2,700 years ago.

TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP—Analysis of the material on two Iron Age altars discovered at the entrance to the “holy of holies” of a shrine at Tel Arad in the Beersheba Valley, Israel, were found to contain Cannabis and Frankincense, according to new article in the journal, Tel Aviv.

July 25, 2020 - Resting atop two limestone altars located at the entrance of Israel’s “holy of holies” shrine are the black residual remains of cannabis and frankincense, indications that the herbs played an important role in the cult practices of the shrine more than 2,000 years ago. Arad shrine at Tel Arad in the Beer-sheba Valley was first excavated half-a-century ago and has since revealed ...

February 24, 2025 - Another recent study suggested that Jesus may have used cannabis oil to perform his healing miracles.

A new study of the residue on two altars in the cultic shrine at Tel Arad has revealed the use of cannabis and frankincense in worship at the site.

December 16, 2022 - The Journal of the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University, Volume 47, May 28, 2020 – Issue 1, published the paper Cannabis and Frankincense at the Judahite Shrine of Arad, by Eran Arie, Baruch Rosen & Dvory Namdar. The article studied the analysis of unidentified dark material preserved on the upper surfaces of two altars ...

Researchers find resin on altar at Tel Arad is marijuana mixed with animal dung, used 2,700 years ago 'as deliberate psychoactive' - first evidence of ritual cannabis use in region