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New research reveals what was on the menu for peasants
Phys.org ^ | 05/16/2109 | University of Bristol

Posted on 05/16/2019 5:28:43 PM PDT by BenLurkin

Using chemical analysis of pottery fragments and animal bones found at one of England's earliest medieval villages, combined with detailed examination of a range of historical documents and accounts, the research has revealed the daily diet of peasants in the Middle Ages. The researchers were also able to look at butchery techniques, methods of food preparation and rubbish disposal at the settlement Dr. Julie Dunne and Professor Richard Evershed from the University of Bristol's Organic Geochemistry Unit, based within the School of Chemistry, led the research, published today in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

"Much is known of the medieval dietary practices of the nobility and ecclesiastical institutions, but less about what foods the medieval peasantry consumed."

The scarce historical documents that exist that tell us that medieval peasant ate meat, fish, dairy products, fruit and vegetables but there is little direct evidence for this.

The OGU team used the technique of organic residue analysis to chemically extract food residues from the remains of cooking pots used by peasants in the small medieval village of West Cotton in Northamptonshire.

(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...


TOPICS: Food
KEYWORDS: agriculture; animalhusbandry; cheese; dietandcuisine; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; huntergatherers; medieval; middleages; northamptonshire; peasants; renaissance; stew; westcotton
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To: BenLurkin

There is a BBC miniseries readily accessible on YouTube called, “Supersizers Go.” A restaurant critic and his comedienne sidekick look at the dietary trends of different eras in British history. Pretty fascinating and entertaining stuff.


21 posted on 05/16/2019 5:57:39 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
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To: Tax-chick
Have you watched "Secrets of the Castle"?
22 posted on 05/16/2019 5:58:14 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Human beings don't behave rationally. We rationalize our behavior.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Yes, a couple of seasons of that were streaming on Netflix. I imagined that Anoreth and I went on a long vacation to tour castles!


23 posted on 05/16/2019 5:59:41 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Be like Kendrick, Brendan, and Riley.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I wonder if anyone drew pictures of their food and posted them in the town square


24 posted on 05/16/2019 6:00:09 PM PDT by Rastus
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To: Tax-chick

25 posted on 05/16/2019 6:01:23 PM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
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To: sparklite2

He steals from the poor
And gives to the rich.

Stupid bitch!


26 posted on 05/16/2019 6:02:39 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Rastus
...they most certainly did!


27 posted on 05/16/2019 6:04:22 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Tax-chick
If you can get a hold of the BBC2 Farm series you might like them as well.
28 posted on 05/16/2019 6:08:52 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Human beings don't behave rationally. We rationalize our behavior.)
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To: dangus

A nice feature of feudalism is that if there’s a shortage of food/peasant ratio the nobility had two factors, instead of just one, that they could adjust.


29 posted on 05/16/2019 6:14:01 PM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

I’ll look for it.


30 posted on 05/16/2019 6:14:09 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Be like Kendrick, Brendan, and Riley.)
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To: BenLurkin
It's likely the peasants ate better than the nobility, who had a lot of sweets.

Back in my younger days when I lived in Boston, there was a place called the Medieval Manor. Fun place to go. I had a couple bachelor parties there. Wenches went around serving drinks (both kinds of beer - light and dark) and you ate beef with your fingers out of a trencher (bread). If you had to use the bathroom, you had to get permission from the King - who always gave you a hard time.

31 posted on 05/16/2019 6:14:40 PM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: BenLurkin

32 posted on 05/16/2019 6:15:11 PM PDT by Long Jon No Silver
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To: sparklite2

“Your lupines or your life!”


33 posted on 05/16/2019 6:16:44 PM PDT by Disambiguator (Keepin' it analog.)
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To: BenLurkin

I thought real archaeologist dug up out houses and such waste pits to determine what someone ate.


34 posted on 05/16/2019 6:21:23 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's fore sure)
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To: Disambiguator

“Well?”
“I’m thinking, I’m thinking!”


35 posted on 05/16/2019 6:24:22 PM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
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To: Ken H

>Four fried chickens and a coke.

You forgot the one slice of Dry White Toast with that


36 posted on 05/16/2019 6:34:14 PM PDT by nevadapatriot
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To: BenLurkin

What, no Turkey legs?


37 posted on 05/16/2019 6:36:03 PM PDT by nevadapatriot
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To: Dr. Sivana

” ...a nice mutton, lettuce, tomato sandwich..”


38 posted on 05/16/2019 6:44:06 PM PDT by A strike (Import third world become third world)
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To: BenLurkin

I wish I knew how to put up a picture of a Big Mac.


39 posted on 05/16/2019 6:45:55 PM PDT by dp0622 (The Left should know if.. Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

ROFL!!

I posted I wish I could put up a picture of a Big Mac but this was just as good :)


40 posted on 05/16/2019 6:47:04 PM PDT by dp0622 (The Left should know if.. Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR)
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