They used them to smoke cannabis, also opium

May 29, 2015 14:49 GMT  ·  By

Archaeologists in Russia are psyched to announce the discovery of two bongs dating back to ancient times. The artifacts, pictured next to this article, are made of solid gold and about 2,400 years old. 

The site where the bongs were found also produced three cups, a ring and a bracelet, all made of gold.

The bongs, the cups and the jewelry are said to be the work of Scythians, a warrior people known to have ruled over large portions of Eurasia between the 9th century BC and the 4th century AD.

Interestingly, the bongs were discovered not by researchers but by workers fitting new power lines. Archaeologists simply confirmed the importance of the find.

Scythians were in the habit of smoking cannabis, even opium

Historians have long been aware of the fact that this nomadic warrior race was all too familiar with drugs and their effect on the human psyche.

Even the Greek historian Herodotus mentioned this habit of theirs in his writings. “Scythians used a plant to produce smoke that no Grecian vapor-bath can surpass which made them shout aloud,” he said.

Archaeological evidence indicates that it was cannabis and opium that Scythians were especially fond of. They would often smoke a combination of these drugs just before going into battle.

By the looks of it, going to war in an altered state of consciousness made them braver. It also made them quite loud, hence the howls documented by Herodotus.

Mind you, historians say that the Scythians would also indulge in some cannabis and opium after having won a tricky battle, just to unwind and celebrate their victory.

Of the two ancient bongs, one shows the image of what appears to be an old man with a beard killing other warriors much younger than himself, ZME Science tells us.

The other vessel, on the other hand, is decorated with battle scenes showing not people but mythological creatures such as a gryphon killing a horse.

Other artifacts could be lurking in the area, researchers say

The 2,400-year-old solid gold bongs and the pieces of jewelry were recovered from burial mound resting atop a burial chamber. Archaeologists suspect other artifacts might still be hidden in the ground and so plan to return to the area.

“It’s like a detective investigation. We don’t understand it all, not immediately. We need to keep digging,” said researcher Antonn Gass, of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation in Berlin, Germany.