Abstract
Here we present evidence of phytoliths preserved in carbonised food deposits on prehistoric pottery from the western Baltic dating from 6,100 cal BP to 5750 cal BP. Based on comparisons to over 120 European and Asian species, our observations are consistent with phytolith morphologies observed in modern garlic mustard seed (Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb) Cavara & Grande). As this seed has a strong flavour, little nutritional value, and the phytoliths are found in pots along with terrestrial and marine animal residues, these findings are the first direct evidence for the spicing of food in European prehistoric cuisine. Our evidence suggests a much greater antiquity to the spicing of foods than is evident from the macrofossil record, and challenges the view that plants were exploited by hunter-gatherers and early agriculturalists solely for energy requirements, rather than taste.
Highlights
It has been plausibly argued that two of the most important events in world history were the nearly simultaneous voyages to America by Columbus and around Africa to India by Vasco da Gama [1]
Phytoliths were at significantly greater relative abundance from the interior carbonized deposits (n = 61) compared to exterior control deposits (n = 13), (t = 1.99 p =,0.001), showing that they were the direct result of culinary practice
The former derive from a context dating to c. 5,900 cal BP, which is contemporary with the earliest evidence of domesticated animals in this area [40]
Summary
It has been plausibly argued that two of the most important events in world history were the nearly simultaneous voyages to America by Columbus and around Africa to India by Vasco da Gama [1] Both these explorations were driven by a European desire for spice, documented in written sources from the classical period [2]. Such efforts culminated in the economic ethic of freeenterprise, colonialism and capitalism [3]. We report on the analysis of phytoliths from carbonised deposits adhering to the inside of Northern European cooking pots, dating from ca. Phytoliths have not been used to investigate the antiquity of non-staple crops
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