An international team of researchers has shed new light on the use of grinding stones in early Neolithic Scandinavia. These stones, discovered at a settlement of the Funnel Beaker Culture on the island of Funen, Denmark, have undergone exhaustive analysis that reshapes our understanding of the dietary habits of the first farmers in Northern Europe. […]
Food
Posted inClassical Archaeology
An Amphora Filled with Remains of Small Fish Found in the Excavations of the Ancient Greek City of Finziade in Sicily
A fascinating archaeological discovery has come to light during the current excavation works at Monte Sant’Angelo in Licata (the ancient Greek city of Finziade), Sicily. Researchers have uncovered a large amphora containing a significant quantity of remains of small fish, offering new and valuable insights into the dietary habits of Finziade’s ancient inhabitants. This discovery, […]
Posted inScience
Microbes Create the Most Toxic Form of Mercury That Accumulates in Fish and Is Then Consumed by Humans
Mercury is a highly toxic chemical element, and although it is dangerous in its elemental form, it becomes especially harmful when it is converted into methylmercury. This compound, accumulating in marine organisms, can enter the food chain and cause severe health effects, particularly impacting the neurological development of fetuses and children. The severity lies in […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
How Roman Sailors Fed Themselves on the High Seas: A Study Reveals the Cooking Technology Aboard Empire Ships
A recent archaeological study reveals how sailors of the Roman Empire managed to feed themselves in the middle of the Mediterranean, facing long and dangerous voyages with ingenious onboard cooking techniques. In a fascinating investigation published in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology, maritime history expert Herman J. van Vliet uncovers the mysteries of how Roman […]
Posted inScience
An experiment begun nearly 100 years ago secures the future of beer and whiskey in the face of climate change
Nearly a century ago, an experiment was initiated that could secure the future of beer and whiskey production in the face of climate change. This experiment has allowed researchers to identify the genes responsible for the remarkable adaptability of barley, a key ingredient in both beverages. As climate change accelerates, these findings could be crucial […]
Posted inScience
How Wheat Bread Gave Rise to Civilization
A recent international study has shed light on how a simple wheat plant transformed the course of human history, becoming the foundation that sustains a global population of eight billion people today. This research, published in the journal Nature, reveals a critical event in the evolution of our civilization: the birth of bread. Professor Brande […]
Posted inIron Age Archaeology
Equitable Distribution of Food Resources was a Crucial Factor in Maintaining Social Stability and Preventing Unrest in Ancient Crete
A new archaeological study sheds light on the dietary practices of the ancient Cretans during the peak of Neo-palatial Knossos, revealing equitable access to food resources and its impact on the site’s social and political stability. The recent study published by Argyro Nafplioti in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology analyzes social status differences in the […]
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology
Bronze Age Mongols’ Diet Uncovered: Blood Sausages and Yak Milk
Around 2700 years ago, Mongolian nomads were processing animal blood and milk using bronze cauldrons, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Basel have discovered the culinary secrets of these ancient peoples through protein analysis of archaeological finds. Bronze Age cauldrons have been unearthed repeatedly across the Eurasian steppe, but their specific […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Evidence Reveals Surprising Dietary Practices of Pre-agricultural Human Groups in Morocco 15,000 Years Ago
For years, the common belief has been that pre-agricultural hunter-gatherer societies relied heavily on meat. However, new evidence from a groundbreaking study reveals a surprising twist in the dietary practices of ancient human groups in Morocco, suggesting a marked preference for plant-based food over 15,000 years ago. The study, conducted by a team of international […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Jomon Hunter-Gatherers of Japan Used Food Sharing to Combat Climate Change 7000 Years Ago
The Jomon were the first inhabitants of Japan, who lived in the country between 16,500 and 2,300 years ago. They lived as sedentary hunter-gatherers, and during the Middle Jomon period around 5400-4500 BCE, they reached their peak population and cultural complexity, during a warm period. However, later there was a climate cooling, and the Jomon […]
