Early Roman Shipwreck Carried Fish Sauce

Breitbart.com ^ | 11-13-06 | DANIEL WOOLLS

[dbehsman]

Interesting. There is more to the article if you click on the link. There is also a picture of an area of the wreck.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I wonder if it was tartar sauce. ;-)

[bannie]

Maybe a newly-recovered recipe for our enjoyment?

Maybe fish food?

:-)

[Thrownatbirth]

Its cargo of an estimated 1,500 well-preserved clay amphoras was used in this case to hold fish sauce _ a prized condiment for wealthy Romans, he said.

Sounds like fish sauce was the Grey Poupon of the day. I imagine there were some frowns when the ship never arrived.

[Cheapskate]

"I wonder if it was TAR-TAR sauce."

Ha , Howie will be pleased

I wonder if the Romans had "green weenies and moooonbats' crying that"We'll be out of seafood in fifty years?"

[MadJack]

The Romans were very fond of fish sauce, and used it as a seasoning in many foods. It was an important trade item in the Mediterranean.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yeah, I was interested in hearing the recipe. Alas, the Octopii ate it. :-P

[LIConFem]

Shipwreck with fish sauce? Sounds a bit too heavy for my tastes.

[sgtbono2002]

The Roman Version of WD-40?

[Gorzaloon]

Sounds like fish sauce was the Grey Poupon of the day. I imagine there were some frowns when the ship never arrived.

If I recall correctly, it was called "Garum", and some of the best was made in a town wiped out by the Vesuvius eruption. Herculanium?

I had read the Romans dumped it on foods the way some people abuse A-1 sauce.

[Gorzaloon]

Yeah, I was interested in hearing the recipe. Alas, the Octopii ate it. :-P

Hic garum est:

Ancient Garum Recipe

Use fatty fish, for example, sardines, and a well-sealed (pitched) container with a 26-35 quart capacity.

Add dried, aromatic herbs possessing a strong flavor, such as dill, coriander, fennel, celery, mint, oregano, and others, making a layer on the bottom of the container; then put down a layer of fish (if small, leave them whole, if large, use pieces) and over this, add a layer of salt two fingers high.

Repeat these layers until the container is filled. Let it rest for seven days in the sun.

Then mix the sauce daily for 20 days. After that, it becomes a liquid.

- Gargilius Martialis, De medicina et de virtute herbarum, reprinted from A Taste of Ancient Rome by Ilaria Gozzini Giacosa, Anna Herklotz (Translator).

Publisher: University of Chicago Press; Reprint edition (May 2, 1994) ISBN: 0226290328

[Lil'freeper]

A Nutrition Ping List For Those Interested in the Research of Dr. Weston A. Price

Fermented foods ping

[Moonmad27]

Yep, Garum AKA liquamen. Here's the recipe from the below link. It sure explains why the fish bones were found in the jars, which surprised me. I've been interested in ancient recipes, but I won't ask anyone to "pass the garum!":

"Ancient Garum Recipe
Use fatty fish, for example, sardines, and a well-sealed (pitched) container with a 26-35 quart capacity. Add dried, aromatic herbs possessing a strong flavor, such as dill, coriander, fennel, celery, mint, oregano, and others, making a layer on the bottom of the container; then put down a layer of fish (if small, leave them whole, if large, use pieces) and over this, add a layer of salt two fingers high. Repeat these layers until the container is filled. Let it rest for seven days in the sun. Then mix the sauce daily for 20 days. After that, it becomes a liquid."

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/romanfood/g/garum.htm

[Unknown Pundit]

They also found the sports section from a recent issue of the Roman Times on the wreck. The headline read: Lions 21, Christians 7. ;-)

[31R1O]

Actually it was probably closer to Thai Fish Sauce. The name of the Roman version escapes me at the moment but it was produced by a similar process. Large vats with sardines and other fishy fish allowed to ferment in the hot sun....

[wodinoneeye]

"in this case to hold fish sauce _ a prized condiment for wealthy Romans"


It was a common condiment, not just for rich people -- it was the equivalent of Ketchup/Catsup.

Most people dont realize the industrial scale of many things done by the Romans. Many things they did were not surpassed until the current age.

[Verginius Rufus]

The Christians killed 7 lions? Impressive.

[TXnMA]

"Then mix the sauce daily for 20 days. After that, it becomes a liquid."

...and be sure to stand upwind while performing this step...

[Unknown Pundit]

LOL.... They had a really strong team that year, but sadly, still lost every match.

All kidding aside though, I'm certainly thankful to not to have been around in those times. Life was so cheap to so many. Still is today in many places around the world. Sigh.

[common denominator]

The fish sauce was made in the communities around the Sea of Galilee.