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.
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机译:在这里,我们提供了从西波罗的海从6100 cal BP到5750 cal BP的史前陶器上碳化食物沉积物中保存的植硅石的证据。根据对120多个欧洲和亚洲物种的比较,我们的观察结果与现代大蒜芥末种子(Alliaria petiolata(M. Bieb)Cavara&Grande)中观察到的植石形态一致。由于这种种子味道浓郁,营养价值极低,并且在锅中发现了植物残渣以及陆生和海洋动物残留物,这些发现是欧洲史前美食加香料的第一个直接证据。我们的证据表明,与大型化石记录相比,食品加香料的远古时期要远得多,并且对以下观点提出了质疑,即捕猎者和早期农业工作者仅出于能源需求而不是品尝才开采植物。
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