1 . Researchers in Germany have found leftovers of 5,000-year-old burnt porridge inside a ceramic (陶瓷的) pot. The pot was unearthed at a Neolithic settlement known as Oldenburg LA 77. Historians say the site was once home to one of the oldest villages in the German region of Schleswig-Holstein. “As soon as we looked inside the person’s cooking pot, it was obvious that something went wrong.” says Lucy Kubiak-Martens, an archaeobotanist with the Dutch research firm BIAX Consult.
The problem? Whoever attempted to make their meal that day must have cooked it for a bit too long, burning the grains inside.
The research was a teamwork between Kiel University and Kenaz Consult and Laboratory, both in Germany, and BIAX Consult. The team used electron microscopy (显微术) to learn about the chemical composition of the food leftovers. Although burning the food may have ruined someone’s meal thousands of years ago, it also helped preserve the leftovers, allowing today’s researchers to get a better look.
“While the animal fats are absorbed into the ceramic and leave a signal there, the plant food components can only be detected in the burnt food crust,” says Kubiak-Martens in a statement from Kiel University. The researchers found that the leftovers contain barley (大麦) and emmer grains, as well as seeds from a white goosefoot plant. They also learned that the barley was harvested and prepared in a style similar to that of contemporary German farmers. The wheat appears to have been processed in a sprouted (发芽) state., which has “several advantages over unsupported grain”, according to the study. Sprouted gains also have nutritional benefits, such as higher levels of important vitamins like iron and vitamin C, and they are easier to digest.
“Food in the Neolithic Age was therefore by no means tasteless, but rather varied,” according to the statement. “People had a highly differentiated sense of taste and attached great importance to good flavour.”
Previously, researchers thought the pot held dairy products. The new analysis revealed that the leftovers were actually a “sophisticated preparation of plant-based foodstuffs”. The team hopes their findings will help provide a more comprehensive understanding of dietary habits in the region.
1. Why did the food leftovers get preserved?A.They were burnt by accident. | B.They were inside a ceramic pot. |
C.They were stored in a special way. | D.They contained some special chemicals. |
A.They liked to eat burnt food. | B.They had a poor sense of taste. |
C.They paid little attention to nutrition. | D.They knew how to make different foods. |
A.Burnt porridge. | B.Dairy products. | C.Animal fats. | D.Plant seeds. |
A.An Analysis of Food Leftovers | B.A Teamwork on Food Research |
C.The Dietary Habits of Ancestors | D.Burnt Porridge Inside an Ancient Pot |
Discoveries made during the latest excavation of Pit No.1 at the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, have allowed Chinese archaeologists to gain more insight into
According to a recent report archaeologists
“The Terracotta Warriors used a very special mechanism to connect pieces together. Such
Through excavations, Chinese researchers have established the types and arrangement of weapons