In 2018, archaeologists made a remarkable discovery in the Jordanian desert: traces of a 14,000-year-old bread-like mixture. This astonishing find predates the advent of agriculture by millennia and sheds new light on the culinary practices of ancient hunter-gatherer societies.
The Discovery Site
The site, which appears to have been abandoned suddenly by its inhabitants, contained two primitive ovens. Here, researchers uncovered remnants of this ancient bread. Using advanced tools like a scanning electron microscope, scientists identified 24 charred fragments as evidence of early bread-making. Although the specific grain type could not be determined, the cell structure of the grains suggests they might have been wild einkorn, rye, or millet. It’s believed that these were unleavened flatbreads, though their exact appearance remains a mystery.
Bread-Making Before Agriculture
This discovery challenges previous assumptions, revealing that bread-making practices existed long before the development of farming. The Natufian culture, a prehistoric civilization thriving between 15,000 to 11,500 years ago in the areas we now know as Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, is credited with this early innovation. The Natufians had already begun settling in wooden houses, marking a shift towards a more sedentary lifestyle. Interestingly, this transition did not seem to be influenced by climatic changes, as previously thought.
A Shift Towards a New Way of Life
This movement towards a Neolithic lifestyle, characterized by settled living, food production, and significant cultural changes, began before the end of the Ice Age. However, the question remains: Why did these ancient people decide to undergo such a radical transformation in their way of life? What could have driven one of the most profound shifts in human history?
Understanding the motivations behind this shift could provide insights into the origins of agriculture and the development of human civilization.
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