Cannabis Was a Core Crop in Northern China as Early as the Late Stone Age

A new study in Journal of Archaeological Science strengthens the view of cannabis as an important part of prehistoric agriculture in northern China. Researchers analyzed plant silica remains, known as phytoliths, from two archaeological sites in Shandong and argue that the plant was integrated into everyday cultivation, processing and consumption as early as around 4,500 to 3,400 years ago.

Phytoliths Reveal Traces That Seeds Do Not Always Preserve

Cannabis seeds contain a high amount of oil and therefore often break down in soil, which can make the plant’s historical importance difficult to detect through conventional plant remains. In the new study, researchers instead used phytoliths, tiny mineral particles that form in plant tissue and can remain preserved in the ground for long periods.

According to a research update from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, clear cannabis phytoliths were identified in material from Beitaishang and Qianzhongzitou in Shandong.

The researchers mainly link the finds to the outer coating of cannabis fruit. This points to use connected with seed handling, food, oil or fiber production, rather than ritual or intoxicating use.

Part of the Classic “Five Grains”

In Chinese tradition, the concept of the “five grains” includes hemp in some northern traditions alongside crops such as millet, wheat and beans. The new analysis supports the idea that cannabis already held such a role in Shandong during the Longshan period. Cannabis phytoliths appeared in more than 68 percent of the samples and were often found together with other central crops such as rice, broomcorn millet and foxtail millet.

According to Marijuana Moment’s summary of the study, 132 samples were analyzed. Cannabis phytoliths were found in 22 of 32 Longshan samples from Beitaishang, in 47 of 65 Longshan samples from Qianzhongzitou and in 16 of 31 Yueshi samples from the same site.

Everyday Use Rather Than Exclusive Ritual

The most interesting point is not only that cannabis was found, but where the traces were discovered. The samples came from household-related contexts such as living areas, ash pits and floors. This suggests that cannabis was processed and used in daily life, not only in graves, ceremonies or elite settings.

In some ash pits at Qianzhongzitou, unusually high concentrations of cannabis phytoliths and several connected phytolith clusters were recorded. The researchers interpret this as a possible link to fiber processing, such as hemp retting.

A More Complete Picture of Cannabis History

The study does not claim to show drug use. On the contrary, the fiber and food aspects are highlighted as the most likely explanation for the finds. Even so, it is an important piece of cannabis cultural history, since it shows that the plant did not merely occur sporadically but formed part of a broader agricultural system.

The results therefore challenge an earlier underestimation of cannabis’ economic and practical importance in prehistoric societies. When researchers can identify the plant through phytoliths, even where seeds and other organic remains are absent, new possibilities open up for tracing the older cultivation history of cannabis in more places.

Study Details

The study is titled Integrating cannabis into the prehistoric crop assemblage: Phytolith evidence from Shandong, Northern China (4500–3400 BP) and was published in Journal of Archaeological Science, volume 189, article 106545. The lead author is Xu Liu, with researchers affiliated with institutions including Shandong University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and archaeological institutions in Shandong Province.

Source

Integrating cannabis into the prehistoric crop assemblage: Phytolith evidence from Shandong, Northern China (4500-3400 BP)