An extremely rare Egyptian alabastron that was once owned by a royal elite has been found to contain traces of opium. This surprising discovery suggests that the narcotic may have been highly revered and widely consumed in ancient Egypt, with kings and rulers even choosing to carry the substance with them on their journey through the afterlife. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

“This study presents the clearest comprehensive evidence yet that opiates were a broader part of ancient Egyptian society and mark the first time that the contents of an inscribed Egyptian alabastron have been identified through scientific techniques,” write the authors of a new study about the artifact.

Housed in the Yale Peabody Museum’s Baby

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