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 […]
Food
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Analysis of Bronze Age Teeth Shows How Dietary Change Drove the Evolution of Caries Bacteria
New research has shed light on the evolution of oral health and the impact of dietary changes on the human mouth. A team of scientists has successfully extracted and analyzed microbial DNA from two remarkably well-preserved 4,000-year-old teeth discovered in a limestone cave in Ireland. Their findings, which include the identification of gum disease-causing bacteria […]
Researchers Discover Why Birds Eat Feces and Why You Should Never Give them Bread
In a study led by the University of South Australia and published in Biological Reviews, researchers have shed light on the surprising role of coprophagy, or the consumption of feces, in shaping the digestive tract of wild birds. This peculiar habit allows birds to absorb lost or deficient nutrients and adapt to seasonal variations in […]
Roman Egg Found in England Still Intact with its Contents
Archaeological research at a site in Aylesbury, UK has unearthed an extraordinary find that is reshaping our understanding of the past. Excavated between 2007-2016 for a housing development, the Berryfields location has kept scientists busy well after initial fieldwork concluded. In 2019, Oxford Archaeology published an in-depth report on decades of investigations at Berryfields, illuminating […]