Ancient people knew how to use cow's milk from 9,000 years ago

People have used milk and dairy products in the northern Mediterranean area about 9,000 years ago.

Scientists found traces of milk and animal fat found in pottery excavated in the Mediterranean region dating from the 7th to the 5th millennium BCE, according to the study. New research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) October 2016.

Cow, goat and sheep bones were analyzed to clarify the practice of raising meat and milk in the Mediterranean region during the Neolithic period.(Photo: Jean-Denis Vigne).

The team also analyzed the bones of sheep, goats and cows, found around the above pottery to determine the age at which the domesticated animal was killed, as well as their intended use for meat. Or take milk.

The results show that milk production and meat production vary by location in the northern Mediterranean region. Traces of slaughtering animals are reflected by the type of fat stored on ceramics used for cooking.

According to Cynthianne Spiteri, a research member at York University, milk is a nutritious food source that can be stored in ancient times, contributing to the formation of an early agricultural community in the northern Mediterranean region.

"Our previous study demonstrated that milk is used in a high-level region in the Near East in the 7th millennium BCE. This new study further emphasizes the use of animal products. a variety in the northern Mediterranean region during the Neolithic period , " said the professor at the University of Bristol.