Researchers have uncovered material evidence showing that yak milk was consumed by Mongolian elites in ancient times, a finding reported by the University of Michigan press service. This discovery adds a new piece to the long-standing story of Mongolia’s dairy heritage, which stretches back more than five millennia. While scientists have long dated the use of cow, sheep, goat, and even horse milk in the region, pinpointing when yak milk entered human diets remained elusive until now. Previous clues—numerous yak images and the proximity of yak remains to human sites—raised questions about whether these animals were wild visitors or domesticated companions, but the answer was unclear until the latest analysis. (University of Michigan press service)
In their contemporary investigation, Ventresca Miller and her colleagues focused on a 13th-century cemetery in northern Mongolia, within the Khubsugul province. The team conducted a proteomic examination of dental tartar from a woman buried there and discovered traces of yak milk in the residue. The researchers described the most striking artifact associated with this individual: a birch bark hat called a bogtog, traditionally worn by married women of high social status, and a silk robe bearing a five-clawed golden dragon motif. The proteomic results suggested that this distinguished woman drank yak milk consistently over her lifetime, signaling a potential cultural and dietary pattern among elite circles of the era. (University of Michigan press service)
Beyond the yak milk findings, the study also detected proteins in the dental tartar consistent with the consumption of other dairy products and animal-derived substances. Specifically, markers associated with cottage cheese proteins were found to be derived from cat milk, while additional protein signatures pointed to the blood from goats and horses. These molecular traces collectively contribute to a richer portrait of diet, trade, and animal management in a society with complex social hierarchies and extensive animal husbandry. (University of Michigan press service)
In a broader sense, the research underscores how advanced molecular techniques can illuminate daily life in past civilizations, revealing not only what people drank but also how certain foods and animals were integrated into ceremonial and everyday practices. The discovery of yak milk in a high-status burial adds nuance to the narrative of domestication timelines and foodways in Inner Asia. It demonstrates that yak milk was not merely a pastoral novelty but a sustained dietary component for those at the upper echelons of society, shaping both taste preferences and cultural identity. (University of Michigan press service)
As the field of paleoproteomics advances, scholars anticipate that more sites will yield biochemical traces that clarify when, where, and how dairying with yak, cattle, and other species spread across Central and East Asia. Each new datum helps construct a more detailed map of early animal domestication, economic exchange, and social structure. The current findings contribute a compelling data point to this ongoing exploration, offering a tangible glimpse into the diets of powerful individuals who helped define a region’s culinary and symbolic landscape. (University of Michigan press service)
It is worth noting that the record of this study sits alongside other intriguing biological clues from the period. For instance, researchers have observed that female spiders may employ feigned death as a mating strategy, a separate line of inquiry into animal behavior that occasionally intersects with human observations. These diverse threads illustrate how modern science pulls together disparate lines of evidence to illuminate the past, from dietary practices to natural history. (University of Michigan press service)