Posted on 06/20/2026 6:04:32 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Archaeologists uncovered the earliest known evidence of cereal harvesting in the Canary Islands, according to a report in La Brújula Verde. The discovery was made at the C008 cave complex at the Roque Bentayga rock formation on Gran Canaria. The site was likely used as a granary, for plant processing, and, later, as a burial ground by the ancient Canarians, a people of Amazigh, or Berber, origin, between the tenth and the thirteenth centuries. Excavations within the caves yielded over 200 lithic artifacts. Microscopic analyses of wear patterns on some of the objects, particularly a small basalt knife, determined that they were consistent with markings on tools such as sickles that were repeatedly used for cutting the stems of barley plants. Prior to the recent discovery, scholars had debated whether such technology was available to the archipelago's original inhabitants before the Spanish conquest in the fifteenth century. Read the original scholarly article about this research in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. For more on the Berbers, go to "Islam North of the Pyrenees."
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...
Yeah, it really got its name from the dogs found there.
Nice Tacitus anecdote!
https://www.thoughtco.com/did-roman-soldiers-eat-meat-120634
[snip] R.W. Davies is not saying the Roman soldiers were primarily meat-eaters. Their diet was mostly grain: wheat, barley, and oats, mainly, but also spelt and rye. Just as Roman soldiers were supposed to dislike meat, so too they were supposed to detest beer; considering it far inferior to their native Roman wine. Davies brings this assumption into question when he says a discharged Germanic soldier set himself up to supply the Roman military with beer near the end of the first century. [/snip]
https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-army/food-in-roman-army/
[snip] Olive oil, very popular in ancient Rome, was also imported for the needs of the army. The meat of cattle, sheep and goats was also eaten, and often confiscated from local residents or led with the army (frumentatio). Sometimes, in the absence of adequate food, foxes, deer, hares, badgers, wild oxen, moles, field mice, beavers and other wild animals were hunted. Poultry was also eaten: ducks, chickens, ravens, geese and others. Garlic was often eaten, which was especially praised by the Romans for its taste and health effects. During the peace, the diet was diversified with cheese and vegetables (legumes, cabbage)...
In the Roman army, they mainly drank diluted wine and the cheaper and more popular drink posca consisting of vinegar, water and herbs. The vinegar was mixed with water to such an extent that you could drink it. Posca was drunk mainly by soldiers and slaves because it was long-lived, easy to obtain and had a healing effect. Apparently, it also gave a lot of energy. Sheep’s and goat’s milk, popular nowadays, was considered uncivilized. It was used mainly for making cheese and for medical purposes. [/snip]
The archaeologists found a bunch of European corn seeds in an ancient bowl.
They found an “E” on each one, that’s how they knew what they were.
They are wheat e’s.
Some of them barley made it.
That's because they were
Wings, wings, nudge, nudge.
Everyone’s on a roll today!
Back in Army days in West Germany, my gin-oholic barracks mate decided the Canary Islands would be perfect for accumulated Leave (vacation). He packed as if for Miami Beach and came back with mild frostbite, unaware of the periodic cold snaps.
“The Sahara Desert was right over there, and I didn’t see any canaries at all! What a rip.”
😁🏝️🐪
Where do you get whole grain barley flour, or do they even make a white barley flour?
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