h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"We have no firm evidence that Bronze Age people ever even made bread". It's interesting to note that Otzi, the world's oldest ice mummy - who dates from 3000 BC (i.e. Bronze Age) had 'well cooked grain' in his stomach, which may well have been processed into a form of bread.

That's interesting, Al! The phrase that you quote was intended to reflect that; from the evidence found in stomachs and in the pollen records we know they used grain, presumably as a foodstuff and probably for bread, but we don't quite have enough evidence to confirm the link. Still, it's pretty fascinating stuff, eh? I live near Dartmoor, which has more Bronze Age remains per square mile than anywhere else in Europe, so I have a bit of a thing about stone rows and pollen records

I'm also interested in pollen w.r.t. the Turin Shroud. Apparently, scientists discovered pollen on the shroud which originate fromn a very narrow area within the Holy Land, despite the fact that there is no record of the shroud ever having been there (since its discovery in the 15th Century.

And of course, I guess, they weren't (if they were making bread), using any kind of perminant ovens to do it in, so I guess there isn't likely to be a 'Bronze age bakery' dug up any time soon Though, I guess there might be Evidence of fires with bread reminds? though I guess the remains would be pretty much gone after this length of time less of course preserved in some manner The evidence from stomach contents is tantilising though, as is the pollen evidence. I guess its hard for us to think of a different way they might have been usign the ooked grains cept for bread, maybe it is a logical step to jump from the cooked grain remainds in stomachs etc., to that it is indicating bread, or at least, somethign very simular to bread I must get in some ingreidiants to make this

Been away and trying to catch up....

*fashionably late*

The thinking is that they would have made these breads on a hot stone on the fire, so probably wouldn't have been using ovens at all - let alone anything permanent. I would imagine any bread remains would be burnt up, and as far as I'm aware even the fire site itself wouldn't have survived so long

The other use for grains, though, is as a 'filler' for soups. I'ts quite easy to boil up fish or animal remains with grain to make a good, healthy, thick soup. As it is easier, and takes less working out, to use grain for soup rather than bread, maybe this is why grains were cultivated in the first place.

Have you tried the bread yet, 2legs? You could have had some at the meet, you know