Toxic seeds found in Roman container in the Netherlands

In 2017 the bone of a sheep or goat was found at Houten-Castellum in The Netherlands. The bone had been hollowed out but sealed on one side with a plug of birch-bark tar and then filled with hundreds of black seeds. The seeds were identified as black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger). It can be used as a medicinal or psychoactive drug. In their report, the researhcers write: “Henbane seeds can be made into a juice for curing all kinds of pain, mucus and disorders of the womb, while the leaves can be applied to the body to soothe pain or be used in a decoction to cure fever.” Uses include relief from stomach pain, stomach ulcers, and muscle cramps. The researchers from The Netherlands and Germany note that the seeds of…

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Ancient History (Digital) - 1 Issue, AH 49

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