At this cave in North Africa some 15,000 years ago, a human was buried alongside an “unusual and special” medicinal plant: Ephedra, a humble shrub that’s still used today in some traditional medicines. It’s the earliest known evidence of humans using this plant, and it holds the potential to cast light on the mysteries of funerary practices and prehistoric medicine. The discovery was made in La Grotte des Pigeons (The Cave of Pigeons), known locally as Taforalt, near the city of Berkane in northeastern Morroco. Most interesting of all was the discovery of Ephedra, a well-known medicinal plant that’s been used in the traditional medicines of India and China for thousands of years. However, they emphasize that it is clear this “unusual and special” plant was consumed in a funerary context, suggesting they understood its significance and strange properties.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 07, 2024 11:03 UTC