Unearthing the Past: Discovering the World’s Oldest Bread in Çatal Hüyük, Turkey

The world’s oldest bread dating back about 8,600 years has been discovered in the Stone Age settlement of Çatal Hüyük in Anatolia, Turkey. Turkish Necmett Erbakan University announced this find, stating that the bread was found in a furnace structure that was mostly destroyed.

Wheat, barley, seeds, and a round, spongy residue were discovered in the oven. The bread had been mixed with water and flour then stored next to the oven for preservation purposes. Assistant professor Ali Umut Turkcan led the archaeological excavations and noted that this was significant as it is the earliest remains of raised bread ever found. The bread from Çatal Hüyük was a miniature version with a fingerprint in the center.

Salih Kavak, a biologist who studied the bread, called it an exciting discovery for Turkey and the world. Çatal Hüyük has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012 and is a significant Stone Age settlement that existed between 7500 and 6400 BC with a population of 5,000 to 10,000 people. This discovery sheds new light on ancient food preservation techniques and highlights the importance of this archaeological site in understanding early human civilizations.

In conclusion, this incredible discovery by archaeologists highlights how ancient societies preserved their food for consumption even thousands of years ago. The fact that such an artifact was found in Turkey further emphasizes its importance as one of the most significant archaeological sites in understanding early human civilizations.