Thursday, December 13, 2012

Humans Said Cheese 7500 Years Ago

60-Second Science

Milk fat residue on pottery shards shows that people were purposefully making cheese at least 7,500 years ago. Sophie Bushwick reports.

More 60-Second Science

What prehistoric genius first discovered how to transform milk into delicious cheese? We may never find out, but we now know that humans were purposefully making cheese as early as 7,500 years ago. The finding is in the journal Nature. [M?lanie Salque et al, Earliest evidence for cheese making in the sixth millennium BC in northern Europe]

To make cheese, you first force milk to coagulate into curds. Then you strain off the liquid, called whey.

Modern cheese strainers bear a strong resemblance to the remains of 34 clay vessels recovered from Polish archaeological sites. But researchers did not know if the vessels might have also have served other purposes. The new study analyzed the residues on these unglazed pottery shards and found the remains of milk fat. Which proves that these containers were part of the cheese-making process more than 7,000 years ago.

Cheese was more than a tasty treat. These prehistoric humans were likely lactose intolerant, and had trouble digesting unprocessed milk. By straining out the lactose-rich whey and transforming the milk solids into cheese, dairy farmers gained nutrition from cows without slaughtering their food source. And finally discovered what to put on crackers.

?Sophie Bushwick

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast]
?


Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=a42d2d2a86ac2b9916e8e194efd6136d

vangogh yield crossbow airhead atherosclerosis steven tyler tropic thunder

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.