Phytoliths in pottery reveal the use of spice in European prehistoric cuisine.

Phytoliths in pottery reveal the use of spice in European prehistoric cuisine.

Blog Article

Here we present evidence of ashy bines protein powder phytoliths preserved in carbonised food deposits on prehistoric pottery from the western Baltic dating from 6,100 cal BP to 5750 cal BP.Based on comparisons to over 120 European and Asian species, our observations are consistent with phytolith morphologies observed in modern garlic mustard seed (Alliaria petiolata (M.Bieb) Cavara & Grande).As this seed has a strong flavour, little nutritional value, and the phytoliths are cyspera cream where to buy found in pots along with terrestrial and marine animal residues, these findings are the first direct evidence for the spicing of food in European prehistoric cuisine.Our evidence suggests a much greater antiquity to the spicing of foods than is evident from the macrofossil record, and challenges the view that plants were exploited by hunter-gatherers and early agriculturalists solely for energy requirements, rather than taste.