In 017, archaeologists discovered evidence of the world’s oldest bread, dated to 12,400 B.C.E., at Shubayqa 1, located in the Black Desert of northeastern Jordan. The site, used by the Natufian hunter-gatherer culture, was abandoned in a hurry—with the bread still cooking in the oven. Researchers used electron microscopes to analyze the charred remains. Although they cannot determine exactly what grain was used, the structure resembles cereal grains, such as einkorn, mullet, or rye. The bread from Shubayqa 1 predates agriculture in the region by some 4,000 years, showing people didn’t need to grow grain to use it. Thirteen […]
