3000-year-old burnt cheese found in Denmark

Excavations in central Jutland in Denmark revealed a vessel filled with burnt cheese that dated back to the Bronze Age. The find is a unique evidence for cooking practice in the prehistoric times and for mistakes that might have happened during.

Clay vessel with the cheese (by Seeker)
Clay vessel with the cheese (by Seeker)

The clay pot was discovered during excavations of an archaeological feature that was once a pit. Supposedly, something must have gone wrong while the cheese making process and the filled vessel was thrown away. Normally charred remains of corn or seeds are found within such pots but macrofossil analysis revealed a foamy, vitrified material that was sent for mass spectrometry. This analysis showed that the substance contained bovine fat. It might have been the last traces of curds used during the original production of traditional hard cheese. Experts say that it might have been the same process that produces brown, Norwegian whey cheese – through boiling down the whey, leaving a caramel-like mass that is turned into the brown cheese.

Excavation of the find (by Science Nordic)
Excavation of the find (by Science Nordic)

(after Seeker & Science Nordic)

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