Archaeologists at the University of Anatolia in Turkey have made a remarkable discovery: the world’s oldest bread, dating back 8,600 years. The bread was found in a destroyed furnace structure in the Stone Age settlement of Çatal Hüyük, located in modern-day Anatolia.
The Turkish Necmett Erbakan University announced the discovery, stating that wheat, barley, seeds, and a round, spongy residue were discovered in the oven. According to Professor Ali Umut Turkcan, who led the archaeological excavations, this is an unprecedented find. Earlier remains of raised bread were found in Egypt, making this discovery particularly significant.
What makes this bread unique is its miniature size and fingerprint-like center. This indicates that it was fermented for preservation purposes rather than being baked for consumption. The grain residues and signs of fermentation were also present in the bread. It had been mixed with water and flour before being stored next to the oven.
Salih Kavak, a biologist who studied the bread, called it an exciting discovery for Turkey and the world. Çatal Hüyük has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012 and is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in understanding early human civilizations. This discovery sheds new light on ancient food preservation techniques and highlights the importance of this site to our understanding of history.
In conclusion, this discovery is significant as it provides insight into how ancient people preserved their food for future use through fermentation processes. It also shows how important bread was as a staple food item during that time period.
As Assistant Professor Ali Umut Turkcan puts it “This finding emphasizes that we have much more to learn about our ancestors’ lives.”