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Shafaq News
20-03-2025
- Shafaq News
From clay tablets to modern tables: Iraq's timeless cuisine
Shafaq News/ Iraqi cuisine is a reflection of the country's rich history and deep-rooted traditions, offering more than just nourishment—it embodies culture and hospitality. From the smoky aroma of Masgouf grilling along the Tigris to the delicate sweetness of date-filled pastries, every dish tells a story. Bustling markets overflow with the scent of spices, while family tables are filled with slow-cooked stews, fragrant rice, and freshly baked bread, making Iraqi cuisine an experience of warmth, generosity, and heritage. A Multi-Layered Taste For Palestinian media professor Lubna Al-Ashqar, a visit to Iraq was as much about flavors as it was about landscapes. 'There are similarities between Iraqi and Palestinian cuisine,' she reflects, 'but the distinct spices and ingredients here truly stand out. The richness and depth of the dishes are unique.' Iraqi cuisine is known for bold flavors, slow-cooked stews, and generous portions. Al-Ashqar immersed herself in classics like Kebabs, Masgouf, and Pacha, a slow-cooked sheep delicacy, alongside Tashreeb, where chunks of bread soak up a fragrant broth. Yet, Iraq's sweets left the strongest impression. 'I couldn't resist taking some home,' she says with a smile. 'Iraqi baklava is unlike any other, perfectly balanced between sweetness and crunch.' Journalist Khaloud Al-Amiri, who has guided numerous foreign guests, shares a few must-try dishes: 'Dolma, Biryani, Siyaḥa (broad beans with eggs), Geymar Arab, Lamb Tashreeb, Kebabs, and grilled fish are always a hit.' Breakfast is where many visitors first fall in love with Iraqi cuisine. Kathrin Ioannis recalls tasting Geymar Arab, a creamy dairy treat served with honey and flaky Kahi pastries. 'I was hooked from the first bite,' she says. 'The honey's sweetness complementing the rich cream felt like a warm hug on a plate.' But the real magic came later, by the Tigris, where the smoky scent of Masgouf mingled with the evening breeze, making the experience unforgettable. 'This is like nothing I've ever had,' she says, clearly impressed by the rich flavors. 'The combination of smoke and spices is incredible.' Iraq's iconic dishes continue to captivate travelers. The beloved Biryani, distinct from its South Asian counterpart, is a fragrant rice dish studded with nuts, raisins, and spices. 'Iraqi Biryani is a celebration of texture and flavor,' says Baghdad-based chef Mustafa Hassan. 'The nuts and raisins add a sweetness that balances the spiciness of the rice, making it a complex yet comforting dish.' Iraq's beverages add another layer to the experience. British traveler Michael Thompson recalls his first taste of Chai Iraqi, brewed with cardamom and served in small glass cups. 'The deep, spiced flavor was unlike any tea I had before,' he reflects. Often brewed over a samovar, Iraqi Chai is a daily ritual that fosters conversation and connection. Another favorite is Laban, a chilled yogurt-based drink that offers a refreshing respite from Iraq's sweltering summers. Rooted in Ancient Traditions Iraqi cuisine traces its origins back to ancient civilizations like the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. The earliest known recipes, preserved on clay tablets from 1750 BC, describe stews, roasted meats, and bread-making techniques still in use today. Folklore researcher Dr. Mahdi Munther explains, 'Many of Iraq's beloved dishes have roots in these civilizations. Iraqi cuisine stands as a testament to resilience, cultural exchange, and time-honored traditions.' One of Iraq's oldest dishes, Habeeṭ, dates back to the Sumerians, who cooked it in large clay pots over open fires. A symbol of hospitality, it was served at daily meals and grand feasts alike. 'Habeeṭ is not just food, it's a dish that tells stories of family, community, and history,' notes Dr. Munther. During the Ottoman period, Dolma, stuffed vegetables with rice, meat, and herbs, became a staple in Iraq, evolving with local ingredients. Baghdad-born food historian Layla Jamil explains, 'Iraq's Dolma is unique. The use of fresh herbs and vine leaves from Mesopotamia's fertile plains creates a distinct flavor that sets it apart.' Once the centerpiece of royal Abbasid feasts, Quzi, a whole lamb slow-roasted with rice, nuts, and spices, symbolizes Iraq's culinary mastery. 'We serve Quzi at large gatherings and weddings,' shares Iraqi chef Amira Al-Khansaa. 'It's a dish of abundance, bringing people together in celebration.' Kubba, crispy bulgur dumplings filled with spiced meat, traces its origins back to ancient Babylon. Over time, it transitioned from a royal delicacy to an Iraqi street food staple. 'Walking through Baghdad, you'll see people enjoying it everywhere,' says food vendor Mahmoud Al-Saleh. 'It's a dish that connects the past with the present.' Hospitality Beyond the Meal Meals in Iraq are about more than nourishment, they are moments of connection, storytelling, and warmth. Visitors are often surprised by the generosity of their hosts, who insist on serving more even when guests are full. During Ramadan, the tradition of Iftar extends beyond families to entire communities. American tourist Richard Hall, visiting Iraq during Ramadan, recalls, 'I was walking in Baghdad when a family invited me to their table. They didn't know me, but they welcomed me without hesitation. It was more than a meal, it was an embrace.' Tea is another cornerstone of Iraqi hospitality. Served in small glass cups, it is accompanied by sweets like Baklava or Kahi pastries. 'Drinking tea in Iraq isn't just about the drink,' says American traveler Ethan Scott. 'It's about conversation, relationships, and community.' Even beyond the home, this generosity is evident. Shopkeepers often offer customers extra treats, whether fruit, spices, or fresh bread. A 2023 study on Middle Eastern hospitality highlights Iraq as one of the region's most welcoming destinations, where visitors leave not just well-fed but deeply moved by the warmth they encounter.
CBC
21-02-2025
- Science
- CBC
Newly discovered ancient apex predator had knife-sharp teeth and bone-crushing jaws
What had the body of a dog, the face of a cat, and jaws powerful enough to potentially crush the bones of an elephant? Meet the Bastetodon, a newly discovered species of apex predator, roughly the size of a leopard or a hyena, that roamed the lush forests of ancient Egypt some 30 million years ago. "It is really the king of the ancient forests," Shorouq Al-Ashqar, a palaeontologist at Mansoura University and the American University in Cairo, told As It Happens guest host Helen Mann. Al-Ashqar is the lead author of a new study identifying the species based on an analysis of a remarkably intact skull discovered in the Egyptian desert. The findings were published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 'Like it died yesterday' Researchers unearthed the skull in 2020 during an expedition to the Fayum Depression, an archeologically rich site in Egypt's western deserts. For days, the scientists meticulously excavated layers of rock, when suddenly, team member Belal Salem, who is now with Ohio University, noticed a large set of teeth sticking out of the ground. Salem "shouted excitedly" to the rest of the team to come look, says Al-Ashqar. "That was a moment," she said. When she first laid eyes on the fossil, Al-Ashqar says she was blown away. It was almost perfectly intact, save for a few cracks, "like it died yesterday." "For any paleontologist to find a three-dimensional skull … or fossil, it's very rare because it's buried under the rocks for millions of millions of years," she said. After analyzing the skull, and comparing it with other fossils on record, the team determined it belonged to an extinct order of mammals called hyaenodonta — fearsome carnivores who evolved before modern-day cats, dogs and hyenas. Because of its cat-like teeth structure, the team decided to call it Bastetodon, after the cat-headed ancient Egyptian goddess Bastet, who symbolizes protection, pleasure, and good health. The researchers also compared the fossil to that of another lion-sized species of hyaenodonta discovered in Fayum more than 120 years ago, which they have dubbed Sekhmetops, after Sekhmet, the lion-headed Egyptian goddess of wrath and war. "We are super proud of our ancient Egyptian history," Al-Ashqar said. While Sekhmetops was originally believed to have originated in Europe, the team concluded both it and Bastetodon came from Africa before spreading to Asia, Europe, India, and North America. What did it eat? Hans Larsson, a Canadian paleontologist who was not involved in the study, called it "pretty cool." "It's a remarkably complete specimen from a time and place where such complete fossils are incredibly rare," Larsson, curator of vertebrate paleontology at McGill University in Montreal, said in an email. Larsson says he wonders what kind of impact the Bastetodon would have had on the food chain. "The presence of Bastetodon must have had implications for the complexity of the ecosystem to be able to support such a large carnivore," he said. "This 'top dog' in the food chain must have had an equally impressive diet." Al-Ashqar suspects it preyed on primates, early hippos and early elephants, all of which have been found on the fossil record for that time. While it only weighed roughly 27 kilograms, its knife-like teeth, powerful jaws and sheer strength meant it could take down large animals, and would not have had any predators of its own. "They were really, really fearsome animals," she said. But if hyaenodonta were so tough, why did they die out? That's a matter of debate among scientists, Al-Ashqar said. Some theorize a changing climate and dying vegetation reduced the availability of prey and caused them to perish. The desert where the skull was found, for example, was once a lush rainforest. Others, she says, believe they were wiped out when they were forced to compete with the ancestors of modern cats, dogs and hyenas, which arrived in Africa when tectonic shifts changed the shape of Earth's continents. Whatever happened to them, she says studying fossils in places like Fayum helps scientists understand how animals adapted — or, in this case, failed to adapt — to huge global changes. "When we study the impact of climate change and the ecological pressures on the past animals, we can know or have a scenario about what would happen for our ecosystem, or for us as humans in the ecosystem," she said.
National Geographic
21-02-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
Near perfect skull of apex predator reveals its 'meat cleaving bite'
Clues about a predator's powerful bite Fossils similar to Bastetodon had been found in Africa before, and previous generations of paleontologists classified them as another hyaenodont from Europe called Pterodon. The new fossil, however, shows that the fossil found in the Fayum is something new. 'They make a good case that Bastetodon is a distinct new genus,' says Swedish Museum of Natural History paleontologist Lars Werdelin, who was not involved in the new study. In life, Al-Ashqar and colleagues estimate, Bastetodon would have been about 60 pounds. It was not one of the largest hyaenodonts, but neither was it one of the smallest. The fossil mammal's body mass, Werdelin notes, would have been comparable to that of a striped hyena or small female leopard. The teeth of Bastetodon show the prehistoric mammal's ability to shear flesh. Whereas fossil skulls are often missing teeth, the cranium of Bastetodon includes a complete upper row of teeth up to the canine. The arrangement indicated that Bastetodon had fewer teeth than some other hyaenodonts, missing a premolar and a molar seen in other species. That gives Bastetodon a relatively short, broad, and more cat-like snout best suited to delivering powerful bites.
Al-Ahram Weekly
18-02-2025
- Science
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Bastetodon, a new 30-million-year-old species of predatory mammal unearthed in Egypt - Society
Mansoura University announced on Monday that a research team from the university's Vertebrate Paleontology Centre has discovered a new species of predatory mammals that lived in Egypt 30 million years ago. The team, led by renowned Egyptian paleontologist Dr Hesham Sallam, has also reclassified a group of predatory mammals that was first identified 120 years ago. The study, conducted by lead researcher Shorouq Al-Ashqar, was recently published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Dr Sallam emphasized that this discovery highlights the critical role of climate change in shaping ancient ecosystems. The fossil was unearthed during a 2020 expedition by the Sallam Lab team in the Fayoum Depression. The excavation yielded an exceptionally well-preserved, three-dimensional skull, allowing for detailed anatomical and morphological studies. The team identified the newly discovered species as Bastetodon, named after the ancient Egyptian goddess Bastet. Additionally, a previously recognized group of lion-sized mammals, classified initially as Pterodon, has been renamed Sekhmetops in honour of the goddess Sekhmet. More about Bastetodon According to lead researcher Dr Al-Ashqar, Bastetodon was a formidable predator, weighing approximately 27 kilograms — comparable to a modern hyena or leopard. It possessed razor-sharp teeth and powerful jaw muscles, enabling it to prey on a diverse range of animals that roamed the region at the time, including early primates, ancestral hippos, elephants, and hyraxes. Al-Ashqar emphasized the significance of this discovery in providing new evidence for the evolution of predatory mammals in Africa. The findings challenge the long-held assumption that these creatures evolved elsewhere before migrating to the continent. Instead, the study supports the idea that Africa was the original homeland of these apex predators before they spread globally. More about Sekhmetops The study also reassessed the classification of Pterodon, which was previously thought to have existed in Europe and Africa. However, new analyses confirmed that its true origin was solely in Europe. As a result, the research team assigned the name Sekhmetops to another species discovered in the ancient forests of Fayoum from the same era. The suffix '-ops' derives from the Greek word for 'face,' further linking the name to the revered Egyptian warrior goddess Sekhmet. Dr Al-Ashqar noted that this change is not merely a renaming but a precise reclassification that reflects the accuracy of modern paleontological research in correcting historical errors. She added that such revisions contribute to a deeper understanding of the evolutionary relationships among species that lived millions of years ago. Morphological and statistical analyses utilizing phylogenetic techniques confirmed that Bastetodon and Sekhmetops belong to the family Hyainailourinae, a subgroup of hyaenodonts. Hyaenodonts were dominant mammalian predators in Africa following the extinction of the dinosaurs. The study further established that this family originated in the Afro-Arabian landmass and spread through multiple migration waves to Asia, Europe, India, and North America. Dr. Sallam stressed the immense scientific value of the Fayoum Depression in advancing the human understanding of mammalian evolution. He described the site as a "scientific treasure trove" that offers a window into Earth's biological history across different geological epochs. 'This discovery would not have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of our research team, who meticulously analyzed the fossil samples and conducted comprehensive classification studies,' Sallam stated. He added that the research focused on identifying new species and explored how environmental and climatic factors influenced their evolutionary pathways. Short link:
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
30-Million-Year-Old Hypercarnivore Skull 'Dream Find' For Paleontologists
In Fayum, Egypt, where now lies a barren desert, a lush forest once stood, teeming with life. Paradise for all creatures therein, however, it was not. The primates, hippopotamuses, elephants, and hyraxes that lived there 30 million years ago were all likely prey for one fearsome hunter: a leopard-sized apex predator with crushing jaws and razor-sharp teeth. We know this because paleontologists have just made a startling find: a nearly complete skull from this newly discovered hypercarnivore. It belonged to a member of the extinct order of carnivores known as Hyaenodonta. A team led by paleontologist Shorouq Al-Ashqar of Mansoura University and the American University in Egypt has given the fearsome creature the name Bastetodon syrtos, after the Egyptian lioness-headed goddess of protection, Bastet. "For days, the team meticulously excavated layers of rock dating back around 30 million years," Al-Ashqar recalls of the dig that yielded the fossilized skull bones. "Just as we were about to conclude our work, a team member spotted something remarkable – a set of large teeth sticking out of the ground. His excited shout brought the team together, marking the beginning of an extraordinary discovery: a nearly complete skull of an ancient apex carnivore, a dream for any vertebrate paleontologist." The Fayum Depression, where the bones were found, represents an incredibly rich and important fossil assemblage for understanding a 15 million-year period in the history of the region, during the Paleogene, a crucial time in the rise of mammals. Paleontologists have been working in the region for more than a century, uncovering the rich ecosystem that once thrived there. "The Fayum is one of the most important fossil areas in Africa," explains paleontologist Matt Borths of Duke University in the US. "Without it, we would know very little about the origins of African ecosystems and the evolution of African mammals like elephants, primates, and hyaenodonts." Although all bones are important for understanding the anatomy of extinct beasts, the skull is arguably the most important, revealing much about an animal's survival strategies. The skull of Bastetodon reveals dentition consistent with Hyaeonodonta, allowing its confident classification, as well as insights into its lifestyle. The animal, the researchers say, was a hypercarnivore – one whose diet, much like cats (wild ones, at any rate) and crocodiles, consists of more than 70 percent meat. It would have occupied a top predator position in its local food web. But the discovery allowed something else – the contextualization of fossils discovered 120 years ago. These remains belonged to a group of lion-sized hyaenodonts that lived in the Fayum region millions of years ago. When they were first analyzed in 1904, they were lumped in with European hyaenodonts. Al-Ashqar and her colleagues found that these fossils, newly grouped together under the genus Sekhmetops (for the Ancient Egyptian lioness-headed goddess of war, Sekhmet) originated in Africa in waves, and are distinct from the European hyaenodonts. Bastetodon also originated in Africa. From there, the animals spread across the Northern hemisphere, making their way to Asia, Europe, India, and North America. However, their reign in Africa was curtailed by environmental changes that led to their eventual extinction, opening ecological niches for other predators to rise to prominence. "The discovery of Bastetodon is a significant achievement in understanding the diversity and evolution of hyaenodonts and their global distribution," Al-Ashqar says. "We are eager to continue our research to unravel the intricate relationships between these ancient predators and their environments over time and across continents." The research has been published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Earthquakes Under Alaskan Volcano Could Be Sign It's About to Erupt Amazing Fossil Reveals Turtle-Like Scales on Jurassic Plesiosaur Earthquake Swarm Mystifies Scientists as Greek Island Tremors Continue
