A scottish archaeology student has discovered a 5,000-year-old piece of chewing gum while on a dig in Europe.
Sarah Pickin, 23, spotted the ancient piece of “confectionery” during a dig in north-west Finland, but had to check with colleagues whether her hunch was correct or if it was in fact a fossilised piece of animal dung.
The part-time barmaid was correct and the lump of birch-bark tar, complete with visible tooth marks, has now been sent for analysis where it is expected to be carbon dated at around 3000BC.