A piece of Stone Age “gum” chewed by a teenage girl 10,500 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists in Estonia.
Institute of History and Archeology at the University of Tartu discovered that prehistoric birch tar had teeth marks and traces of saliva.
The substance, synthesized by dry distillation of birch bark, can also be used as glue.
After extracting DNA from saliva, the university's Genomics Institute discovered that the gum was likely chewed by a girl with brown hair and brown eyes.
“The institute holds DNA samples from 20% of Estonia's population, providing scientists with modern genetic comparisons to better interpret ancient DNA,” said historian Bettany Hughes.
The discovery was revealed in Hidden Estonia: Land of Fire and Ice, part of Bettany Hughes' Treasures of the World documentary series airing on the channel Channel 4 on Saturday.
“Gaining access to the team’s research was truly a magical moment,” Hughes said. “It shows how one disposable item can bring us face to face with the people of the past.
“We now know that people chewed tar – burned or heated birch bark – to relieve toothaches and as an adhesive. Today it is still used as an adhesive, sealing cracks in tools and pots.
“We even know [the gum chewer] I had brown eyes and hair, which I like because it challenges the assumption that northern Europeans had blonde hair and blue eyes. It’s such an interesting but deeply wonderful thing.”
The University of Tartu is analyzing other historical artifacts from across Estonia, including an 800-year-old cross depicting genitals that makes a sound when worn.
The metal cross has a vulva-shaped hinged part that, when moved, covers the engraved design of the penis and hits it.
Professor Heiki Valk told Hughes it showed how medieval Estonians combined pagan fertility symbols with their new Christian faith, adding: “When you wear it, it makes an amazing noise.”
As part of the program, Hughes also examined artifacts from a skeleton discovered in a 12th-century burial ground in the Estonian village of Kukruse.
“Lady Kukruse” was about 50 years old and was buried with fine bronze and silver jewelry, food that could be eaten in the afterlife, a sieve, daggers, and a fertilized bird's egg that was discovered at her feet.
Dr Esther Horace, the archaeologist who analyzed the eggshell, said: “Someone decided that this particular woman should have this fertilized egg as a funerary object to be buried with her. Something to do with perhaps some Christian symbolism and fertilization.”
