Opium found in Ancient Cyprus vessel

Researchers at the University of York and the British Museum have discovered traces of opiates preserved inside a vessel from Cyprus dating back to the Late Bronze Age. Vessels of this type, known as "base-ring juglets," have long been thought to have links with opium use because when inverted they resemble the seed head of the opium poppy; they are known to have been widely traded in the eastern Mediterranean ca. 1650 - 1350BC.

Researchers used a range of analytical techniques to study a Cyprus juglet housed in the British Museum, which was a sealed vessel, allowing the contents inside to be preserved. This meant that there was a rare opportunity for scientists to investigate what components might have survived.

Initial analysis by scientists at the British Museum showed that the juglet residue was mostly composed of a plant oil but hinted at the presence of...