Student finds 5,000-year-old 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.
“It is generally believed that Neolithic people found that by chewing this stuff if they had gum infections it helped to treat the condition.”
Ms Pickin said: “I was delighted to find the gum and very excited to learn more about the history.
“I am keen to work in this area in the future so the experience has stood me in good stead.”
She also found part of an amber ring and a slate arrowhead, which will be on display at the centre following laboratory analysis.
