Neolithic pottery with traces of food has been found on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, shedding light on ancient dietary practices. The discovery was reported in Nature Communications and highlights how early communities in Britain engaged with agriculture, animal husbandry, and food preparation long before written records.
The spread of farming and pottery making began in the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East during the 10th millennium BC. From there, farming communities and the technology of ceramic vessels moved into Europe and beyond during the 8th millennium BC. This broader movement of people and ideas carried innovations that gradually reached Scotland, arriving much later in the 3rd millennium BC. The new evidence from Scotland helps fill gaps in the story of how Neolithic life unfolded at the edge of Europe and how far its influence extended.
Researchers from the University of Bristol, led by Lucy Cramp, studied 59 pottery sherds unearthed on the Isle of Lewis, part of an extensive survey of ancient settlements on the island that dates back to 3640–3360 BC. To identify what people cooked and stored, the team conducted surface chemical analyses using gas chromatography, a method well suited to detecting organic residues in ceramic vessels. The results showed a predominance of residues derived from animal fats, as indicated by saturated fatty acids and related degradation products. Stable carbon isotope analysis revealed that more than half of the samples contained dairy product residues, and some also indicated the presence of ruminant meat.
Among the analyzed vessels, twelve sites yielded plant remains, revealing a diversified diet. In one notable finding, evidence pointed to the processing of grain in ceramics, with a type of wheat identified through characteristic molecular signatures. In several samples, cereals and dairy residues appeared together, and in at least one case, traces of wheat were found alongside meat. This co-occurrence suggests that early cooks mixed cereals with dairy and meat to create more flavorful and nutrient-rich foods, perhaps a porridge or similar preparation that could have been a staple in daily meals.
The study adds depth to the understanding of Neolithic life in Scotland by showing that dairy, cereals, and animal proteins were part of everyday consumption, even in coastal communities where fishing and hunting would also have played a role. The presence of dairy products points to milking practices and animal management that supported a more stable food supply, while the recovery of plant remains and specific cereals indicates long-term farming strategies alongside foraging. Taken together, these findings illuminate how communities on the northern edge of Europe blended agricultural crops with animal products to create sustaining meals.
Further research into pottery residues and the context of these vessels will continue to illuminate the daily routines and foodways of Neolithic settlers in the British Isles. By combining chemical analyses with archaeological context, scientists can reconstruct menus, cooking techniques, and seasonal patterns, offering a clearer view of how people in this region adapted to their environment and built a resilient food system over generations.
In sum, the discovery on the Isle of Lewis demonstrates a sophisticated and varied diet among early Scottish communities, with dairy and cereals playing central roles and animal proteins contributing to the richness of meals. This picture aligns with broader patterns seen across Europe and the Near East, where the emergence of farming and pottery transformed ancient life and laid down a foundation for later cultural and technological developments.