The prehistoric birch tar found in Estonia contained traces of saliva that were analysed by genetics experts
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.
