Earliest Evidence of Dairy Farming Found

AP - Science ^ | 2003-01-27

[Junior]

WASHINGTON - Dairy farming became widespread in Britain as early as the new stone age — around 4,000 B.C. — a team of researchers at England's University of Bristol reports.

Mark Copley, an archaeological chemist, said evidence of milk fats was found on broken pieces of pottery at several ancient sites in southern England.

Using new methods of analysis, scientists have learned to differentiate between ancient residue from milk fat and other fats and oils in recent years, Copley and his team report in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Their findings provide evidence of "the earliest farming communities in Britain, though obviously there were earlier ones in the Near East," Copley said.

Animals were domesticated in the Near East about 8,000 B.C. Copley explained, and by the time farming practices reached England, dairying had become widely incorporated, using animals for both their meat and milk, Copley said.

He said the team hopes to trace the spread of dairying from the Near East through Southeast Europe and the Balkans.

While the chemical testing can detect milkfats, Copley said he didn't know exactly how the milk was being used.

However, he added, "when you consider how soon milk goes off, it's most likely they were making butter, cheese or yogurt ... which actually keep a long time."

By analyzing residue on pots and other artifacts from ancient communities, Copley said, archaeologists are "building up quite a big picture of how ancient economies actually worked."

[Junior]

So, four years after Adam and Eve were created dairy farming had spread as far as Britain. What I can't figure out is how those milk fats survived the Flood ...

[VadeRetro]

They found a "Got buffalo milk?" poster in the Lascaux caves, don't you know ...

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Probably the earliest flyswatters were nothing more than some sort of striking surface attached to the end of a long stick.

--Jack Handey

[Tijeras_Slim]

A fossilized milk carton with "Have you seen Og?" on the side.

[DainBramage]

I guess they never heard of the land of milk and honey?

They had to have something to go wash down the ba-manna bread.

[gnarledmaw]

Seems awfully late, no?

[blam]

Prehistoric Britons' Early Taste For Milk

[PoorMuttly]

They used it to lubricate their drills in the Marmite mines.

[gnarledmaw]

Are you familiar with the neanderthal/rodeo clown connection?

[blam]

"Are you familiar with the neanderthal/rodeo clown connection?"

No, I don't think so.

[PatrickHenry]

What I can't figure out is how those milk fats survived the Flood ...

It was the magnetic influence of Stonhenge. Idiot!

[DannyTN]

What makes you think he got the dates right?

How does he know it's 4000 years old? If he got the date wrong, your question is moot.

[gnarledmaw]

My belief is that this is not the whole story, but Im getting ahead of myself. Start here, its brief...

Valerius Geist
THE NEANDERTHAL PARADIGM
April 19th, 2000

After he's done, Ill explain why I think hes missing an important piece of the puzzle.

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic was posted 1/28/2003. Thanks Junior.

[null and void]

Cheese is milk’s attempt at immortality...

[Bigg Red]

Cheese is milk’s attempt at immortality...

&&
Good one. And I suppose that explains why it insists upon continuing to inhabit my substantial adipose tissue.

[colorado tanker]

Ug, good cheese, Chedda, what you call it?