A tiny 3,000 year old gold ritual vessel which ancient tribes used to 'get high' has emerged for sale for £45,000.

The canonical shaped vessel was used by the Scythians - who lived in what is now southern Siberia between 900 and 200 BC - to smoke cannabis and opium.

The Scythians were nomadic warriors who partook in human sacrifices, drank the blood of slain enemies and used female warriors.

A tiny 3,000 year old gold ritual vessel which ancient tribes used to 'get high' has emerged for sale for £45,000

The 3in vessel, which weighs just 4.4 ounces (125 grams), is being sold by Timeline Auctions, in Mayfair, London.

It has belonged to a European businessman since the 1990s, having previously been in a North American collection for four decades.

Its whereabouts before then is unknown.

Chris Wren, managing director at Timeline Auctions, said: 'The Scythians were a nomadic people who covered a vast area - they were known by the Chinese who built the Great Wall to protect themselves against their raids.

The canonical shaped vessel was used by the Scythians - who lived in what is now southern Siberia between 900 and 200 BC - to smoke cannabis and opium

'Gold vessels which have been recently excavated and also have holes to the base were found to have a black residue inside that, when tested, was discovered to be a mixture of cannabis and opium.

'Academic opinion believes them to have been used for the ritual burning of incense or drugs.

'This is a special object which shows that clearly drugs are not just a modern problem!'

The Scythians were nomadic warriors who partook in human sacrifices, drank the blood of slain enemies and used female warriors

The Scythians extended their influence all the way from China to the northern Black Sea.

Masters of warfare on horseback, the tattooed warriors drank to excess and got high as this was seen as important for social bonding between individuals and tribes.

The sale takes place on May 28.