A new study reveals the first documented evidence of the use of the plant Harmal, scientifically known as Peganum harmala, as a therapeutic and psychoactive incense about 2,700 years ago during the Iron Age. Published on May 23 in the journal Communication Biology, the discovery reveals the cultural and medicinal importance of Harmal in fumigation practices and inhalation as smoke. The research is a joint collaboration between the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany, the University of Vienna in Austria, and the Saudi Heritage Authority.
The site of Qurayyah, known in antiquity for its decorated ceramic vessels referred to as Qurayyah Painted Ware, is known for its archaeological findings. Researchers found organic remains of Harmal inside Iron Age fumigation vessels discovered at the Qurayyah oasis site. "These residues provide a chemical proof of the first known combustion of harmal, not only in Arabia but in the whole world," said Barbara Huber, the study's lead author, according to Science Daily.
The researchers applied metabolic profiling techniques, including high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), to analyze organic residues preserved inside Iron Age fumigation devices. This analytical technique allows the detection of characteristic alkaloids of Harmal even in tiny and degraded samples.
"The integration of biomolecular analysis with archaeology has allowed us to identify not only what types of plants people used, but also where, how, and why," said Professor Marta Luciani, director of the Qurayyah excavations and archaeologist at the University of Vienna, according to Science Daily. "We're gaining access to plant-based practices that were central to daily life but are rarely preserved in the archaeological record."
The chemical compounds discovered belong to Harmal, known in folk medicine for its purifying properties, antibacterial effects, and for causing psychological effects when inhaled as incense. The study reveals that native plants were deliberately used for their bioactive and psychoactive properties nearly 2,700 years ago, revealing the integration of traditional knowledge in ancient practices.
"This discovery shows the deep historical roots of traditional healing and fumigation practices in Arabia," stated Ahmed M. Abualhassan, co-director of the Qurayyah project at the Heritage Commission, according to Science Daily. "We are preserving not only objects but the intangible cultural heritage of ancient knowledge that remains relevant in local communities today."
This discovery makes the use of Harmal as incense the oldest known practice of its kind in the world, showing its long-standing cultural and medicinal importance. Harmal is still used today in some Arab regions, either in folk medicine or in rituals of fumigating houses, perhaps to prevent envy or to purify the place. The discovery indicates that such practices are not new, but their roots extend back thousands of years.
"Our discovery sheds light on how ancient communities relied on traditional knowledge of plants and their local pharmacopoeia to care for their health, purify spaces, and potentially trigger psychoactive effects," added Huber, according to Science Daily. "This is not just an archaeological discovery, but a real window into the ancients' knowledge of botany, and how they used nature to heal themselves and purify their souls."
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