Huber Barbara, Luciani Marta, Abualhassan Ahmed M, Giddings Vassão Daniel, Fernandes Ricardo, Devièse Thibaut
Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Department of Archaeology, Jena, Germany.
Centre de Recherche et d'Enseignement des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Aix-en-Provence, France.
Commun Biol. 2025 May 23;8(1):720. doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-08096-7.
The utilization of medicinal and psychoactive plants in the past represents a pivotal intersection of culture, health, and biodiversity. While such plants in Arabia have been known from classical and medieval textual records, this study provides material evidence of the use of one such plant for fumigation already in the Iron Age. Through metabolic profiling of organic residues recovered from archaeological artefacts at the oasis of Qurayyah, Northwest Arabia, we identified the drug plant Peganum harmala. Renowned for its antibacterial, psychoactive and multiple therapeutic properties, its presence highlights the deliberate utilization of local pharmacopeia by ancient communities. This discovery represents not only the first evidence for its use in Iron Age Arabia, but also the most ancient, radiometrically dated material evidence of Peganum harmala being used for fumigation globally. Beyond their health benefits, these plants were also valued for their sensory and affective properties. Documenting, understanding and preserving these ancient knowledge systems enriches our understanding of ancient traditions while safeguarding the region's intangible cultural heritage.
过去药用植物和精神活性植物的利用代表了文化、健康和生物多样性的关键交汇点。虽然阿拉伯地区的此类植物在古典和中世纪的文献记录中就已为人所知，但本研究提供了物质证据，表明早在铁器时代就有一种这样的植物被用于熏蒸。通过对从阿拉伯西北部库拉亚绿洲的考古文物中回收的有机残留物进行代谢分析，我们鉴定出了药用植物骆驼蓬。骆驼蓬以其抗菌、精神活性和多种治疗特性而闻名，它的存在凸显了古代社区对当地药典的有意利用。这一发现不仅是其在铁器时代阿拉伯地区使用的首个证据，也是全球范围内骆驼蓬用于熏蒸的最古老的、经放射性测定年代的物质证据。除了对健康有益外，这些植物还因其感官和情感特性而受到重视。记录、理解和保护这些古老的知识体系，既能丰富我们对古代传统的理解，又能保护该地区的非物质文化遗产。
