Pottery from a rockshelter in Colorado has yielded traces of salicylic acid, known as natural aspirin. Derived from willow bark, this substance is still used by Native American groups to treat pain. Archaeologists believe that due to the absence of other residues (in particular those of food) on the same ceramics, it is possible that these pots were specially used to prepare and store medicinal preparations.
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A well-preserved granary, built with mud bricks and lined with grass and lime, dating back to 2500 BC was found at the site of Rakhigarhi. This site is only one of many that have recently come to light, and that help support the idea that the Harappan civilization had its roots on the banks of the rivers Saraswati and Drishadvati.
Archaeologists have uncovered the Atlantic Garden, a beer garden that served German beverages and food, in a family-friendly environment. Discovered at 50 Bowery in New York City, the excavations revealed many intact bottles, mugs, and plates, to the delight of the archaeologists. The tavern, that opened in 1860 and closed in 1916, has a lively and interesting history which the archaeologists are beginning to bring back to light.
Neanderthals may have boiled their food, this according to John Speth. He speculates that these early humans may have used skin or birch bark bags to boil their food. If this is true, then this would push back the use of fire by thousands of years.
For all you food lovers, there is some spicy news on the archaeological forefront. Researchers are suggesting that Capsicum annuum, one of the most common chili peppers sold today, was domesticated in central-east Mexico. The researchers combined a variety of methods to better understand the domestication of this small, yet potent fruit.
FIve centuries of diets is a paleoethnobotanists dream! This is what archaeologists discovered while excavating at the Great Kitchen of Durham Cathedral, United Kingdom. Thousands of bones, belonging to fish, birds, and other animals were recovered, as well as pottery sherds. Together, these elements reflect the foods consumed over various centuries.
Well-preserved mummies in northwestern China were apparently buried with cheese-- making this the oldest cheese in the world. Even more interesting is how the cheese was made. After careful studies of the cheese were undertaken, archaeologists believe that a mix of milk and a starter were used. This technique is still used today to make kefir. Researchers suggest that such an easy process of making cheese may explain the spread of herding throughout Asia.
Wishing everyone a happy new year! I hope that 2014 brings exciting news in the world of archaeology. As usual, I'll be posting the latest news right here on this page, so stay tuned. Thank you for your continued support and interest.
For those that enjoy beer, you can now drink a new brew, inspired by a Nordic recipe: Kvasir. This new (yet ancient) recipe was discovered thanks to residue analysis on various pottery sherds, carried out by Dr. Pat McGovern. This new recipe, re-created by Dogfish Head, is an interesting, and probably tasty, mix of berries, fruit wine, and birch syrup.
On that note, happy holidays to everyone! Cheers! Baby bottles are not modern-day inventions. Italian archaeologists, working in Taranto (southern Italy), where the Messapian people lived around 1000 BC, discovered a unique terracotta baby bottle in the shape of a pig. This artifact-- found among numerous other artifacts inside a Messapian tomb--also featured terracotta rattles in the belly, which archaeologists believe could have helped put the baby to sleep.
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