. Earth Science News .
ABOUT US
Early peoples in Pacific Northwest were smoking smooth sumac
by Brooks Hays
Washington DC (UPI) Jun 26, 2020

Some 1,400 years ago, people living in what is now Washington state were smoking smooth sumac, Rhus glabra. Scientists found residues of the native plant in an ancient pipe.

The discovery, described this week in the journal Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, marks the first time researchers have recovered non-tobacco residues from an ancient pipe.

Scientists also identified the chemical signatures of N. quadrivalvis, a species of tobacco paleobotanists and archaeologists estimate was once widely cultivated in the Americas, but is no longer grown in the region.

"Smoking often played a religious or ceremonial role for Native American tribes and our research shows these specific plants were important to these communities in the past," lead study author Korey Brownstein, a former doctoral student at Washington State University, now at the University of Chicago, said in a news release. "We think the Rhus glabra may have been mixed with tobacco for its medicinal qualities and to improve the flavor of smoke."

Researchers used a novel chemical analysis technique that allows scientists to isolate and identify thousands of plant compounds, or metabolites, from residues in a variety of artifacts, including pipes and bowls.

"Not only does it tell you, yes, you found the plant you're interested in, but it also can tell you what else was being smoked," said study co-author David Gang, a professor in Washington State's Institute of Biological Chemistry. "It wouldn't be hyperbole to say that this technology represents a new frontier in archaeo-chemistry."

Previous analysis methods only targeted a small number of biological compounds, such as nicotine, anabasine, cotinine and caffeine. Early analysis methods weren't precise enough to identify different strains of tobacco or isolate the metabolites of specific plants.

In a second pipe recovered from an archaeological site in Washington state, scientists found the residue of a different strain of tobacco, N. rustica, grown by native populations on the other side of the country.

"Our findings show Native American communities interacted widely with one another within and between ecological regions, including the trade of tobacco seeds and materials," said study co-author Shannon Tushingham, an assistant professor of anthropology at Washington State. "The research also casts doubt on the commonly held view that trade tobacco grown by Europeans overtook the use of natively-grown smoke plants after Euro-American contact."

Authors of the newly published study are currently working with modern indigenous communities such as the Nez Perce to rediscover ancient plant management practices.

At a greenhouse managed by the Nez Perce, tribe members are growing pre-contact tobacco, with hopes of smoking the same strains of tobacco that their ancestors smoked.

"We took over an entire greenhouse to grow these plants and collected millions of seeds so that the Nez Perce people could reintroduce these native plants back onto their land," Brownstein said. "I think these kinds of projects are so important because they help build trust between us and tribal communities and show that we can work together to make discoveries."


Related Links
All About Human Beings and How We Got To Be Here


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


ABOUT US
In the wild, chimpanzees are more motivated to cooperate than bonobos
Leipzig, Germany (SPX) Jun 26, 2020
We humans have unique cooperative systems allowing us to cooperate in large numbers. Furthermore, we provide help to others, even outside the family unit. How we developed these cooperative abilities and helping behaviour during our evolutionary past remains highly debated. According to one prominent theory, the interdependence hypothesis, the cognitive skills underlying unique human cooperative abilities evolved when several individuals needed to coordinate their actions to achieve a common goal, ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

ABOUT US
Build a better, greener world economy after pandemic: Stiglitz

Hungary enlists army in fight against virus joblessness

'Hey Siri,' shortcut put to use against police abuse

Morocco navy 'rescues' 100 seaborne migrants: agency

ABOUT US
Levitating droplets allow scientists to perform 'touchless' chemical reactions

Oz tech titans to build world's tallest 'hybrid timber' tower in Sydney

Microsoft ends game streaming, teams up with Facebook

Synthetic materials mimic living creatures

ABOUT US
Four new species of giant single-celled organisms discovered on Pacific seafloor

Brazil passes bill easing privatization of water utilities

Arab League urges Ethiopia to delay filling Nile dam

UN Security Council to meet Monday on Ethiopia dam

ABOUT US
Seasonal sea ice changes hold clues to controlling CO2 levels, ancient ice shows

Plastic 'has entered' Antarctic terrestrial food chain

Antarctic sea ice loss is good news for the continent's penguins

Artificial intelligence could revolutionize sea ice warnings

ABOUT US
Antibiotic use on crops isn't being monitored in most countries

U.S. beekeepers saw unsually high summertime colony losses in 2019

China dog meat festival goes ahead but virus takes a toll

China bans some US chicken, shuts Pepsi plant to fight virus

ABOUT US
Mexico quake death toll rises to 10

Eruption of Alaska's Okmok volcano linked to period of extreme cold in ancient Rome

New research reveals how water in the deep Earth triggers earthquakes and tsunamis

Sahara dust cloud looms over Cuba, Caribbean and Florida

ABOUT US
Burkina army says it has destroyed two jihadist 'bases'

Renewed clashes in Tunisia's deprived south

Algeria says soldier killed in clash with armed Islamists

Algeria weighs plan to allow army deployments abroad

ABOUT US
In the wild, chimpanzees are more motivated to cooperate than bonobos

Archaeologists find ancient circle of deep shafts near Stonehenge

Neandertal genes in the petri dish

A Neandertal from Chagyrskaya Cave









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.