Category: Archaeology

Archaeological analysis of ancient pottery has revealed traces of milk fats dating back nearly 9,000 years in modern-day Turkey. This discovery confirms that, yes, our ancestors consumed dairy, but the story of how and why is more complex than simply drinking raw milk, as most early adults were lactose intolerant.

Archaeological evidence from ancient pottery suggests that humans began consuming milk from domesticated animals as far back as the Neolithic period, approximately 9,000 years ago. This practice emerged as part of the agricultural revolution, fundamentally altering human diets and leading to a significant evolutionary adaptation: the ability for some adults to digest milk.

Recent archaeological findings at the site of Gesher Benot Ya’akov suggest early humans were processing and consuming a wide variety of starchy plants as far back as 780,000 years ago. This discovery fundamentally challenges the long-held assumption that prehistoric diets consisted almost exclusively of meat. Far from a meat-only regimen, early hominids developed sophisticated methods for processing and enjoying plant-based foods, fundamentally altering our understanding of human nutrition and evolution.

5000 years ago, most of humanity was entrenched in the Neolithic Revolution, a profound shift from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled agriculture. This transition dramatically reshaped dietary habits, introducing domesticated crops and animals alongside the continued reliance on wild food sources.

Evidence from Stone Age 'Venus' figurines, which often depict obese female forms, indicates that some form of obesity existed as far back as 30,000 years ago. However, this archaeological curiosity represents the exceptional rather than the norm, and modern scientific consensus debunks the myth of widespread fat cavemen.

Evidence from archaeological digs reveals that the ancient Israelites cultivated several varieties of wheat, with emmer and durum being the most prominent. These ancient grains were central to daily life and religious practices, providing the staple for bread and other foodstuffs throughout the biblical period.

Evidence suggests that early hominins, potentially *Homo erectus*, were using controlled fire to cook food as early as 1 million years ago, with strong evidence from approximately 780,000 years ago. This revolutionary development profoundly impacted not only the diet of Paleolithic people but also their social structure and evolution.

Archaeological evidence proves that humans were processing wild sorghum, a cereal grain, over 100,000 years ago. This astonishing finding shatters the long-held misconception that early humans did not eat grains, revealing a far more complex prehistoric diet.

Evidence from Middle Pleistocene archaeological sites, including butchered animal bones and ancient dental calculus, points to a highly flexible, omnivorous diet for archaic humans 500,000 years ago. This ancestral menu was far more diverse and opportunistic than many modern diet trends suggest.

Despite the popular image of early humans consuming one large meal after a hunt, mounting evidence suggests this is a myth. A more accurate picture of Paleolithic eating patterns reveals a complex, opportunistic, and varied diet dictated by environment and season. Our ancestors likely snacked on foraged food throughout the day, supplementing with larger meals when a big kill was made.