Archaeologists in Estonia have made a remarkable discovery: a piece of ancient “gum” – actually birch bark tar – chewed by a teenage girl over 10,500 years ago. The find offers an unprecedented glimpse into the daily life of people during the Mesolithic period.
Birch Tar: More Than Just Gum
The substance, created by heating birch bark, served multiple purposes. Beyond being chewed, it was also used as an adhesive, a sealant, and potentially for medicinal benefits like relieving toothaches. Today, similar methods are still used in some cultures to seal tools and pots.
The discovery was made by the Institute of History and Archaeology at the University of Tartu, who identified clear tooth marks and traces of saliva in the tar. Crucially, the team was able to extract ancient DNA from the saliva, providing a genetic profile of the individual.
A Teenager with Brown Hair and Eyes
Genetic analysis reveals the gum chewer was a girl with brown hair and brown eyes. This finding challenges the common assumption that early northern Europeans exclusively had fair hair and blue eyes.
“This discovery is profoundly remarkable because it shows how even a discarded item can connect us to the people of the past,” explains historian Bettany Hughes, who featured the research in her documentary series Hidden Estonia: Land of Fire and Ice. The university’s extensive modern DNA database—holding samples from 20% of Estonia’s population—allowed for accurate comparisons.
Beyond Gum: Pagan Symbols and Burial Rituals
The University of Tartu is also studying other artifacts, including an 800-year-old metal cross with hidden pagan fertility symbols. The cross contains a hinged vulva shape that makes noise when moved against an engraved penis design. Historians believe this represents the blending of Christian and pagan beliefs in medieval Estonia.
“When you wear it, it makes a brilliant noise,” Prof Heiki Valk told Hughes.
Additionally, excavations at a 12th-century burial ground in Kukruse uncovered a woman buried with jewelry, food, tools, daggers, and a fertilized bird’s egg. Dr. Ester Oras suggests the egg may have been included as a grave good with religious symbolism related to fertilization.
Why This Matters
The discoveries underscore the power of ancient DNA analysis to reveal intimate details about past lives. The gum chewer’s genetic profile, combined with the artifacts recovered from burial sites, provides tangible evidence of human behavior and cultural practices spanning millennia.
These finds demonstrate that people in prehistoric and medieval Estonia were complex, resourceful, and had deeply held beliefs. The combination of scientific and archaeological methods continues to unlock new insights into the human story.
