A recent discovery in an ancient tomb in Egypt has revealed a 3,600-year-old sample of cheese, making it one of the oldest cheeses ever discovered. The cheese was found in a tomb belonging to Ptahmes, a high-ranking official during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II. This finding sheds light on the diet and culinary practices of ancient Egyptians.
The cheese was unearthed by a team of archaeologists led by Enrico Greco from the University of Catania in Italy. The cheese was well preserved due to the desert-like conditions of the tomb, providing valuable insights into the ancient cheese-making process. Analysis of the cheese revealed that it was made from a combination of sheep’s and goat’s milk, a common practice in ancient Egypt.
This discovery adds to the growing body of evidence that cheese-making has been practiced for thousands of years. The ancient cheese sample is just another example of how food was an integral part of ancient cultures and societies. It also highlights the importance of preservation techniques in archaeology, as the cheese was able to survive for such a long period of time.
The findings of this discovery have been published in the journal Analytical Chemistry. The research team hopes that further analysis of the cheese will provide more insights into the ancient Egyptian cheese-making process and the role of dairy in their diet. The discovery of this 3,600-year-old cheese is a fascinating glimpse into the culinary practices of ancient Egypt and adds to our understanding of the history of cheese-making.
Source
Photo credit www.nytimes.com
