Stone Age pottery with traces of milk porridge found in Scotland

Archaeologists have discovered Neolithic pottery with traces of food in Scotland. Article about it published In Nature Communication.

Agriculture and pottery production originated in Europe and Western Asia in the fertile crescent region of the Middle East in the 10th millennium BC. In the 8th millennium BC, immigrants from the Middle East began to spread to Europe and brought this technology with them. The Neolithic revolution reached Scotland, at the other end of Europe, relatively late, in the 3rd millennium BC.

Scientists from the University of Bristol, led by Lucy Cramp, examined 59 pottery sherds from the Isle of Lewis in the northern British Isles. It was discovered during a survey of ancient settlements on this island, which dates back to 3640-3360 BC. The authors performed surface chemical analysis using a gas chromatograph, which is well suited for the analysis of organic residues. Among the identified residues, saturated fatty acids, degradation products of animal fats predominate. Analysis of stable carbon isotopes showed that more than half of the samples examined had residues of dairy products, in some cases – ruminant meat. In 16 samples from four sites, the scientists found plant remains. Characteristic homologues concluded that one type of wheat was fired in ceramics.

At the same time, traces of both cereals and dairy products were found simultaneously in eight samples. In one case, traces of wheat were mixed with traces of meat. Scientists suggest that people mix these products to get a tastier and more nutritious porridge.

Earlier archaeologists found There are three ancient shipwrecks at the bottom of the South China Sea.