Fumigation device with traces of harmal© Hans Sell
Posted on 05/31/2025 9:20:22 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The plant species Peganum harmala, also known as Syrian rue or harmal, is known worldwide for its psychoactive, antibacterial, and therapeutic properties. It has also played a significant cultural role in traditional medicine for centuries. According to a statement released by the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, humans' deliberate usage of the plant goes back much further than originally thought. In a recent study, researchers used advanced metabolic profiling to analyze residues on pottery found at the desert oasis site of Qurayyah in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The team found trace amounts of harmal on various ceramic fumigation devices found in residential contexts, indicating that the Iron Age community living there 2,700 years ago was well aware of its beneficial properties. The researchers do not believe that the plant was being inhaled for its psychoactive properties but instead for its medicinal, sanitary, or practical effects. It may have been burned for air purification, disinfection, or pest control, which seems relevant in domestic oasis environments. Additionally, it may have been used to alleviate various physical ailments. "This discovery shows the deep historical roots of traditional healing and fumigation practices in Arabia," said Ahmed M. Abualhassan of the Heritage Commission of the Saudi Ministry of Culture. "We're preserving not only objects, but the intangible cultural heritage of ancient knowledge that still holds relevance in local communities today." Read the original scholarly article about this research in Communications Biology.
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...
The other GGG topics added since the previous digest ping, alpha:
Fumigation device with traces of harmal© Hans Sell
additional upcoming topics:
https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/27/baby-rattles-were-mass-produced-in-bronze-age-syria/
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https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/28/occupant-of-egyptian-tomb-finally-identified-after-50-years/
https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/23/scientists-identify-evidence-of-ambush-17000-years-ago/
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Also keeps bugs out of your linens.
Oh pshaw
Neanthertyal dudes been dopin n banging dem homo sapien chicks thousands and thousands years before any surveys....,ayep
“The researchers do not believe that the plant was being inhaled for its psychoactive properties”. Well maybe not in the beginning, but once they got high, I’ll bet that they did a lot more often.
“I get high with a little help from my (very old) friends.”
Harmala alkaloids are not particularly psychoactive.
This text implicitly states this, “The researchers do not believe that the plant was being inhaled for its psychoactive properties…”
Harmaloids don’t get people high.
“Harmala alkaloids are not particularly psychoactive.”
By itself that is true. But many psychoactive plants are only one agent of a combination. It this case the Rue is mixed with Mimosa hostilis / acacia root bark to make a form of Ayahuasca. It was used all over the middle east, Levant, and mediterranean. It was probably traded even much further... It could have been the source of the Flaming Bush and discussion Moses had.
https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Ayahuasca_brew
“ By itself that is true.”
That’s right. Harmala will protect the psychoactive component in a concoction from being degraded.
Ayahuasca is South American. You’re saying the Middle East has a similar mix. What plant is used in the Middle East for the hallucinogenic effect? What’s the active ingredient?
The Moses burning bush idea is a dopehead fantasy.
“What plant is used in the Middle East for the hallucinogenic effect? What’s the active ingredient?”
I just told you, Acacia bark. both used in combination make a compound similar to Ayahuasca. I gave you the link, and there are tons of these links.
“The Moses burning bush idea is a dopehead fantasy.”
No it is not... The historic use of Psychoactive Plants in the period are well documented and common place. Especially Fly Agaric/Amanita Muscaria. So this possibility is absolutely viable. Along with all the other “Dreams/Visions” that created the books of the Bible.
Like it or not there is a very strong connection with Christianity and Psychoactive use. Just as there is with Pagan religion.
There’s a school of thought that human brain development took off 10s of thousands of years ago due to use of psychoactive mushrooms by hunter gatherers. The mushrooms increased perceptions, alertness, metabolism, nerve healing and cognitive abilities.
The traits couldn’t be passed on but the knowledge could. Dependents would be fed meat while non-using competitors would eat foods lower in essential fats for brain growth. End result was vegetarian foragers could only support small brains while the meat eating trippers supported large brains.
The meat intense diet was passed down supporting larger brains. And that was the evolution of the mushroom eaters.
Acacia bark. Ok, thanks.
But the other stuff is dopehead lunacy.
Crank stuff.
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