For a long time, many people believed that early humans mainly ate meat and fish during the Stone Age. But new research shows that they also ate many kinds of plants.
The study was led by scientist Lara González Carretero from the University of York.
How did scientists find this out?
Researchers studied ancient cooking pots that are about 8,000 years old. The pots were discovered at 13 archaeological sites across Northern and Eastern Europe.
Instead of only using traditional methods, scientists used powerful microscopes to examine tiny food remains stuck inside the pots.
Pots like this one were analysed as part of the study (Photo by: Lara González Carretero et al)
What did they discover?
The researchers found that early humans cooked many different foods, including berries, grasses, leaves, seeds and fish.
This shows that hunter gatherers had a much more varied diet than scientists once believed.
Clever cooking methods
The scientists also discovered that people mixed ingredients in interesting ways.
For example, remains of viburnum berries were found in some pots. These berries can taste bitter and may even be harmful if eaten raw. But when they were cooked together with fish fat, they became safer and more pleasant to eat.
Researchers noticed that these berries were only found inside the pots, which suggests they were usually cooked with fish.
Different places, different recipes
The study also showed that cooking styles were different from place to place.
Even when people had access to the same foods, they sometimes prepared them differently. Scientists believe this shows that early communities had their own food traditions and cooking habits.
Photo Credits: Lara González Carretero et al
