5,000-Year-Old Bread Unearthed in Turkey: Recipe Recreated!

Five-Thousand-Year-Old Bread Unearthed in Turkey: A Culinary Time Capsule In September 2024, a remarkable discovery was made at the Küllüoba archaeological site near Eskisehir, Turkey. Archaeologists unearthed a remarkably well-preserved piece of bread dating back approximately 5,000 years to the early Bronze Age. The bread's exceptional state of preservation, attributed to its burning and subsequent burial under a newly constructed house, allowed for the reconstruction of its recipe by a local bakery. Murat Türkteki, the director of the excavation, stated, "This is the oldest baked bread discovered in an excavation and has largely preserved its shape." The bread, described as flat and about two centimeters in diameter, was composed of coarsely ground lentil seeds and emmer wheat, an ancient variety of wheat. The successful recreation of this ancient bread offers a fascinating glimpse into the culinary practices of the Bronze Age. The discovery underscores the importance of archaeological findings in understanding past cultures and their foodways. The bread is now on display at the city's archaeological museum, a testament to the enduring legacy of culinary history.