Recreating the complex cuisine of prehistoric Europeans

Archaeologists are delving deeper into the culinary practices and diets of ancient civilizations worldwide. A newly published study in PLoS ONE reveals findings from an interdisciplinary team of scientists who examined residues found on prehistoric ceramic cooking pots. Their research suggests that early hunter-gatherer communities in Eastern Europe not only hunted fish and animals but also gathered various plants for their meals. The study highlights the complexity of ancient recipes, with researchers noting that these early communities often mixed ingredients to create dishes unique to their regions. This intriguing area of research has gained momentum recently. For example, a 2020 study involved researchers analyzing chemical residues from approximately 50 ceramic pots over a year. They even replicated ancient cooking methods, preparing maize-based meals in similar pots to test their theories. Their findings indicated that charred remnants at the bottom of the pots could reveal clues about the last meal cooked, while layers of buildup provided insights into previous culinary practices. Traditionally, archaeological analysis has focused more on identifying animal remains, making it challenging to determine the plant-based diets of these ancient peoples. This latest research took a different approach by employing multiple analytical techniques to investigate residues from 58 pottery pieces that date back to between the 6th and 3rd millennium BCE. The scientists conducted their own cooking experiments, utilizing a variety of ingredients in ceramic vessels over an open flame. To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the ecological contexts, they selected pottery shards from diverse locations, including coastal, lagoon, riverside, and lakefront sites, specifically targeting those with significant food residue crusts. Additionally, they examined local botanical records to ascertain the types of plants that would have been available in each area. The researchers used microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to analyze the most heavily crusted areas, along with lipid and bulk isotope analysis, to uncover the dietary habits of these prehistoric populations.