Student finds 5,000-year-old chewing gum

An archaeology student has discovered a 5,000-year-old piece of chewing gum.

Sarah Pickin, 23, found the lump of birch bark tar — complete with Neolithic tooth prints — while on a dig at the Kierikki Centre on the west coast of Finland. She was one of five UK students on a volunteer programme.

Ms Pickin’s tutor at the University of Derby, Professor Trevor Brown, said: “Birch bark tar contains phenols, which are antiseptic compounds.