Tag: Archaeological finds

The oldest known cultivated fruit discovered by archaeologists is the fig, with remains found dating back over 11,400 years. To understand what is the first fruit eaten by humans, however, we must distinguish between foraging wild fruits and intentionally cultivating them for harvest.

Archaeological evidence from a Natufian site in Jordan revealed bread-making dating back approximately 14,400 years, making it one of the oldest processed foods discovered. However, defining the oldest food staple is complex, as it involves differentiating between naturally foraged foods and those deliberately cultivated or prepared by early humans. The answer depends on what you consider a “staple” and how far back you look in human history.