Rapid acceptance of foreign food tradition in Bronze Age Europe

Phys dot org trademark ^ | August 19, 2020 | Claudia Eulitz , Kiel University

[SunkenCiv]

Not just metals, hierarchical societies and fortified settlements: a new food also influenced economic transformations in the Bronze Age around 3,500 years ago. This is evidenced by frequent archeological discoveries of remains of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), a cereal with small, roundish grains. A major study by the Collaborative Research Center 1266 at Kiel University (CAU) was published yesterday (13 August) in the journal Scientific Reports. It shows how common millet got onto the menu in Bronze Age Europe. Intensive trade and communication networks facilitated the incredibly rapid spread of this new crop originating from the Far East.

"Wheat, maize and rice now dominate our cereal farming. Millet is regarded as a niche crop suitable mainly for birdseed," explained Professor Wiebke Kirleis from CRC 1266. As this cereal is once more experiencing increasing attention as a gluten-free food, however, it makes the results of the study even more exciting, she added.

Millet was domesticated in north-east China in about 6000 BC and quickly became a staple crop. It is a drought-tolerant, fast-growing cereal that is rich in minerals and vitamins. With a growing time of just 60 to 90 days from sowing to harvest, it was grown by both farmers and pastoralists, and was consumed by both humans and domestic animals. Over thousands of years, pastoral groups spread millet westward from East Asia. The earliest millet in Central Asia comes from archeological sites in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Kashmir Valley, and is dated to about 2500 BC.

"In Europe, curiously, broomcorn millet has been found at many Neolithic sites, which date from between 6500 and 2000 BC, depending on the region," said Kirleis.

[SunkenCiv]

and from Archaeology News Network:

Spreading like wildfire: earliest finds and spread of common millet in Europe [Credit: Carsten Reckweg, Janine Cordts & Dragana Filipovic, UFG Kiel]

[SunkenCiv]

[blueunicorn6]

“Quickly became a staple crop”

And thus the Bostitch Millet Stapler was born and ancient peoples could staple together their many documents.

[nicollo]

Otzi the Iceman preceded spread of millet, but he ate einkorn wheat, which was first cultivated in Asia Minor, not an insignificant spread from there to the Italian Alps 3500 BC, but which took some 6000 years to get there.

[Boogieman]

Just don’t try to staple more than two clay cuneiform tablets together, or those cheap Bostitch Millet Staplers always jam.

That’s why I use a Swingline.

[SunkenCiv]

I used to have one of those in school, boy, were those tiny staples.

[LadyDoc]

Pearl millet was domesticated in Africa, probably in Ethiopia, in 3000 BC, maybe as early as 6000 BC.

[Trillian]

My birds LOVE millet.

[SunkenCiv]

Millet helps them reach beak performance. /rimshot

[Trillian]

hahaha

[SunkenCiv]

Or it didn't take long at all, but Oetzi's is the only evidence that has been found / has survived.

[Red Badger]

At that time ANY FOOD was acceptable........................

[SunkenCiv]

Yup, we're all opportunistic feeders.

[Red Badger]

Brave was he who first ate an oyster...........

[SunkenCiv]

Brave was he or she who second ate rhubarb. ;^)

[Red Badger]

I've never eaten rhubarb or even seen any.... 😳

[SunkenCiv]

For a beverage I suggest soda water.

(wow, after I typed it, even I had to look that one up)

The stems are okay, the leaves are loaded up with oxalic acid, which is sufficient quantity, is fatal. That quantity can wind up in the water if you blanch the whole plant. :^o

[Red Badger]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalic_acid

[SunkenCiv]

The rest of the millet keyword, chrono, edited:

• Lost in Combat? [3000 years ago] [2019]
• For Peaceable Humans, Don't Look to Prehistory [2016]
• Unexpected and Gruesome Battle of 1250 BC Involved 4,000 Men from Across Northern Europe [2016]
• Ancient nomads spread earliest domestic grains along Silk Road, study finds [2014]
• End Of Filibuster Brings First Of Many Radical Judges [2013]
• "Early Bronze Age battle site found on German river bank" [2011]
• Early Bronze Age battle site found on German river bank [2011]
• China's millet spread to Europe 7,000 years ago [2009]
• Early Agriculture Left Traces In Animal Bones [2009]
• Archaeologists find bones from prehistoric war in Germany [2008]
• Ancient City Reveals Life In Desert 2,200 Years Ago (China - Caucasians) [2006]
• How Africa Became Black [2006]
• Researchers Shed New Lights On Origin Of Ancient Chinese Civilization [2006]
• Chinese Scientists Unearth 4,000-Year-Old Noodle Dish (Suggests Pasta Invented In China) [2005]
• China Exclusive: Chinese Archaeologists Discover Worlds Earliest Millet [2005]
• 9000 Years Old Oriental Wine Found [2005]