A piece of stone age “gum” chewed by a teenage girl 10,500 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists in Estonia.
The Institute of History and Archaeology at the University of Tartu discovered the prehistoric birch tar had impressions of teeth marks and traces of saliva.
The substance, synthesised by the dry distillation of bark from a birch tree, can also be used as an adhesive.
After extracting DNA from the saliva, the university’s Institute of Genomics found the gum was probably chewed by a girl with brown hair and brown eyes.
“The institute holds DNA samples from 20% of Estonia’s population, providing scientists with a modern genetic comparison to better interpret ancient DNA,” said the historian Bettany Hughes.
The discovery was revealed in Hidden Estonia: Land of Fire and Ice, part of the Bettany Hughes’ Treasures of the World documentary series, broadcast on Channel 4 on Saturday.
“Having access to the team’s research was a really magical moment,” Hughes said. “This shows how one throwaway item can bring us face to face with the people of the past.
“We now know people chewed tar – burnt or heated silver-birch bark – for things like relieving toothaches and as glue. It’s still used as an adhesive today, sealing breaks in tools and pots.
“We even know [the gum chewer] had brown eyes and hair, which I love because it challenges the assumption that northern Europeans had fair hair and blue eyes. It’s such a relatable but profoundly remarkable thing.”
Tartu University is analysing other historic artefacts from across Estonia including an 800-year-old cross depicting genitalia that makes a sound when worn.
The metal cross has a hinged piece in the shape of a vulva that covers and knocks against an engraved penis design when moved around.
Prof Heiki Valk told Hughes it showed how medieval Estonians integrated pagan fertility symbols with their new Christian faith, adding, “When you wear it, it makes a brilliant noise.”
In the programme, Hughes also examined artefacts from a skeleton that was discovered in a 12th-century burial ground in the Estonian village of Kukruse.
The “Kukruse lady” was in her 50s and buried with fine bronze and silver jewellery, food to eat in the afterlife, a sieve, daggers and a fertilised bird’s egg, which was discovered at her feet.
Dr Ester Oras, the archaeologist who analysed the eggshell, said: “Someone decided that this particularly lady should have this fertilised egg as a grave good to be buried with her. Something to do with maybe some kind of Christian symbolism and fertilisation.”
