• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

Scientists reveal diet of early Neolithic farmers in Scandinavia: water and gruel, not bread

by Dario Radley
December 21, 2024

Recent research into a 5,500-year-old Neolithic settlement on the Danish island of Funen challenges long-standing assumptions about early agricultural diets. This site, associated with the Funnel Beaker Culture, has provided a wealth of artifacts, including grinding stones and over 5,000 carbonized cereal grains like naked barley, emmer wheat, and durum wheat.

Scientists reveal diet of early Neolithic farmers in Scandinavia: water and gruel, not bread
Microscopies of archaeological starch granules from different grinding stones from Frydenlund, magnified 400 times (the white bars represent 20 μm), each photographed in both plane-polarized (left) and cross-polarized light. Credit: Cristina N. Patús, HUMANE, Barcelona

Traditionally, grinding stones have been assumed to serve as tools for producing flour to bake bread. But recent research conducted by an international team from Denmark, Germany, and Spain, including archaeobotanist Dr. Welmoed Out and senior researcher Dr. Niels H. Andersen of Moesgaard Museum, offers a different perspective. The researchers employed advanced methods to analyze microscopic mineral plant remains (phytoliths) and starch grains found on these grinding stones. Surprisingly, no traces of cereal grinding were detected. Instead, the identified starch grains originated from wild plants, not cereals.

“We have not identified the plants from which the starch grains originated. We have simply ruled out the most obvious candidates—namely, the cereals found at the settlement, which were not ground, as well as various gathered species, including hazelnuts,” explained Dr. Out. Dr. Andersen noted that the grinding stones lacked wear marks typically associated with grinding cereals. Instead, these stones were likely used with pestles to crush materials, akin to a mortar and pestle technique.

The findings, published in Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, suggest that early Neolithic farmers at Frydenlund prepared cereals as porridge or gruel rather than bread. This discovery aligns with evidence from other Funnel Beaker sites across Northern Europe, where remnants of cooked cereals, berries, nuts, roots, and meat have been uncovered. According to Dr. Andersen, “Early farmers did not subsist on bread and water but rather on porridge and water, along with other gathered and hunted foods.”

Scientists reveal diet of early Neolithic farmers in Scandinavia: water and gruel, not bread
If you’re curious about what the settlement on South Funen looked like in the early Neolithic period, here’s an informed guess in the form of a model displayed at Moesgaard Museum. Credit: Niels H. Andersen/Aarhus University

The study also challenges assumptions about early beer brewing in Denmark. While beer production is documented in other Neolithic contexts, such evidence has not been found in Denmark during this period. Brewing practices appear to have emerged in the region only during the Bronze Age.

RelatedStories

Prehistoric animal remains in Iran's Wezmeh Cave reveal ancient Zagros ecosystems

Prehistoric animal remains in Iran’s Wezmeh Cave reveal Zagros biodiversity

May 27, 2025
Earliest use of psychoactive plant 'harmal' uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing

Earliest use of psychoactive plant ‘harmal’ uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing

May 24, 2025

In addition to cereals, researchers identified hazelnuts and blackberries as significant dietary components, reflecting a mix of agriculture and foraging. The grinding stones’ exclusive use for processing wild plants underscores the continued importance of foraged foods even as farming became more established.

This research is the first to apply phytolith and starch analyses to grinding stones from Northern Europe’s early farmers, offering unprecedented insights into Neolithic food preparation.

“This study involves only one settlement,” cautioned the researchers. “Different results might emerge when this method is applied to findings from other excavations.” Future research will extend this approach to other Northern European sites, providing a broader picture of early Neolithic dietary practices and their role in the neolithization process.

Explore 3D models of 11 different grinding stones from the Frydenlund site here — you can rotate and interact with them using your mouse.
More information: Aarhus University
Publication: Out, W.A., García-Granero, J.J., Andreasen, M.H. et al.  (2024). Plant use at Funnel Beaker sites: combined macro- and microremains analysis at the Early Neolithic site of Frydenlund, Denmark (ca. 3600 BCE). Veget Hist Archaeobot. doi:10.1007/s00334-024-01020-9


Stay updated with us! Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and Linkedin, and join our WhatsApp and Telegram channels for the latest in archaeology, all directly on your favorite platforms!
Share2Tweet1ShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago
Archaeology

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

May 31, 2025
Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning
Anthropology

Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

May 31, 2025
18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist
Archaeology

18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

May 30, 2025
Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite
Archaeology

Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

May 30, 2025
43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world's oldest
Archaeology

43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world’s oldest

May 30, 2025
4,500-year-old clay baby rattles in Syria reveal mass production and parenting in the Bronze Age
Archaeology

4,500-year-old clay baby rattles in Syria reveal mass production and parenting in the Bronze Age

May 29, 2025

Comments 1

  1. Matthew Johnson says:
    5 months ago

    Medieval peasants ate pottage, essentially gruel with whatever veggies and meats were available. People in the New Stone Age ate pottage, too, cool fact. Thank you for keeping this magazine free.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
105K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

May 28, 2025
Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

May 27, 2025
Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

December 15, 2024
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

May 31, 2025
Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

May 31, 2025
18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

May 30, 2025
Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

May 30, 2025
43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world's oldest

43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world’s oldest

May 30, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.