Latest news with #AlejandroValenzuela
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
We finally know what Romans gobbled up for snacks on Mediterranean islands
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Songbirds were on the menu 2,000 years ago on the Roman island of Mallorca, archaeological evidence reveals. Bones of the small thrushes were discovered in a trash pit near the ancient ruins of a fast-food shop, giving researchers new clues about Roman-era street food. "Based on local culinary traditions here in Mallorca — where song thrushes (Turdus philomelos) are still occasionally consumed — I can say from personal experience that their flavor is more akin to small game birds like quail than to chicken," Alejandro Valenzuela, a researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies in Mallorca, Spain, told Live Science in an email. In a new study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, Valenzuela detailed his analysis of a collection of animal bones discovered in the ancient city of Pollentia , which was established after the Romans conquered the Balearic Islands in 123 B.C. Pollentia quickly became an active Roman port, and the city expanded to include a forum, temples, cemeteries and a network of shops. One of these shops likely functioned as a "popina" — a small establishment where locals could gather and grab a snack or some wine — as archaeologists found six large amphorae embedded in a countertop. Nearby, a roughly 13-foot-deep (4 meters) cesspit had been filled with garbage, including broken ceramics that helped date the pit's use to between 10 B.C. and A.D. 30, along with a variety of mammal, fish and bird bones. But Valenzuela was interested in investigating the role of small birds in the ancient Mallorcan diet, since their fragile bones are often poorly preserved at archaeological sites. In the Pollentia pit, though, there were more bones from song thrushes than from any other kind of bird. By looking closely at the specific thrush bones found in the cesspit, Valenzuela found a pattern: While there were numerous skulls and breastbones (sterna) from the small birds, there were almost no arm and leg bones or bones of the upper chest, which are associated with the meatiest parts of the bird. Related: Mass grave of Roman-era soldiers discovered beneath soccer field in Vienna The absence of the fleshy portions of the bird carcasses "suggests that thrushes were widely consumed, forming part of the everyday diet and urban food economy" at Pollentia, Valenzuela wrote in the study. Historical records show that Roman game hunters often caught song birds in large groups using nets or pit traps, and then sold them to retail establishments that cooked and distributed them as food. Based on the bone evidence, Valenzuela thinks the birds were prepared by removing the sternum to flatten the breasts. This technique would have allowed the food vendor to rapidly cook the bird — either on a grill or pan-fried in oil — while retaining moisture. The broken ceramics found in the cesspit could suggest that the thrushes were served on plates just as they would have been in a home dining context. "However, given their small size and the street food context, it's also entirely plausible that they were presented on skewers or sticks for easier handling — both options are possible," Valenzuela said. RELATED STORIES —2,000-year-old 'not a pizza' fresco discovered in Pompeii —Ancient Pompeii 'fast-food' spot lured customers with sexy logo —Ancient concession stands and shops found at Roman gladiator arena Along with thrush bones, Valenzuela found that the Romans ate domestic chickens (Gallus gallus) and European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in large quantities, suggesting they were also on the menu at this ancient fast-food joint. Roman cities had a dynamic approach to food, Valenzuela wrote in the study, as seasonal products like thrushes were easily integrated into everyday diets, and "street food was a fundamental component of the urban experience."
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Science
- Gizmodo
Ancient Roman Street Vendors Served Up Songbirds
A study of animal remains from an ancient trash pit in Mallorca suggests thrushes were once a staple of Roman street food culture. Ancient Romans in need of a quick bite often chowed down on fried songbirds, new research suggests. A researcher working on the island of Mallorca found bones of song thrushes inside a trash pit near the ruins of an ancient fast food joint. The study, published in May in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, suggests that thrushes were commonly sold and consumed in Roman cities. This challenges the long-held belief that these small, speckled birds were a delicacy reserved for elite banquets. What's more, the findings offer fresh insight into the vibrant street food culture of the Roman Empire. 'Based on local culinary traditions here in Mallorca—where song thrushes (Turdus philomelos) are still occasionally consumed—I can say from personal experience that their flavor is more akin to small game birds like quail than to chicken,' Alejandro Valenzuela, the study's author and a researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies in Mallorca, Spain, told Live Science in an email. Valenzuela analyzed a collection of discarded animal bones discovered in the ancient city of Pollentia, located near the modern town of Alcúdia in northern Mallorca. After the Roman Empire conquered the Balearic Islands—Mallorca and Menorca—in 123 BCE, it strategically built this city on the isthmus between two large bays. At one time, Pollentia was one of the most active Roman ports in the region, according to Valenzuela's report. Archaeological excavations of Pollentia's ruins have uncovered a forum, temples, homes, a theater, cemeteries, and tabernae—small roadside shops that sold goods, drinks, and cheap eats. In the late 1990s, researchers excavated one of these buildings, known as 'room Z,' and found a central drain that emptied into a cesspit located on the porch in front of the taberna. This roughly 4-foot-wide (1-meter-wide) 13-foot-deep (4-meter-deep) pit contained ceramic fragments that indicated it was excavated around 10 BCE. as well as materials associated with food waste. The animal remains inside the pit included multiple species of mammals, fish, and birds that had likely been prepared, cooked, and consumed in or around the taberna. Valenzuela analyzed and taxonomically identified these remains, finding five different species of birds: common cranes, domestic fowl such as chicken, pigeons, thrushes, and other thrush-sized songbirds. Thrushes were most prevalent with 165 identified specimens. Then, Valenzuela noticed something surprising. The assemblage of remains included numerous skulls, breastbones, and distal bones of the wings and legs, but very few bones from the meatiest parts of birds, such as the upper wing, lower wing, thigh, and upper breast. The most likely explanation for this is that these bones were discarded by kitchen workers during butchering, Valenzuela explains in the study. The few meatier bones found inside the pit also support this hypothesis, as they showed damage consistent with butchery. 'This evidence suggests that thrushes were widely consumed, forming part of the everyday diet and urban food economy,' Valenzuela writes. Despite their abundance, ancient Roman literature typically portrays thrushes as a luxury food reserved for the upper echelons of society, according to the study. In Plutarch's biography of the Roman general Lucullus, for example, he describes the practice of fattening thrushes for elite banquets. Valenzuela's findings, however, suggest that this dish was not as exclusive as the literature makes it seem. In fact, it seems that these birds were a staple of street food culture in Roman-era Mallorca. Determining whether this was true in other parts of the Roman Empire will require further research. Valenzuela states that exploring the role of other songbirds in ancient Roman cities could offer insight into how they integrated seasonal resources into their food systems. 'Ultimately, this research highlights the need to move beyond elite-centric narratives and consider the diverse ways in which food practices shaped the lived experiences of ancient urban communities,' Valenzuela concludes.
Miami Herald
03-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Ancient waste shows surprising ‘luxury' food item was not only for Roman elite
On the island of Mallorca, in what was once the ancient Roman city of Pollentia, researchers have unearthed evidence of street food vendors selling an item long believed to be reserved for the elite. The popular on-the-go menu item offered to the masses? A fried songbird. Archaeologists discovered the remains of thrushes in an underground waste disposal system called a cesspit connected to a taberna, or food shop, in Pollentia dating back about 2,100 years, according to a May 26 study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. Cesspits preserve organic material and provide insights into the diets, health and cultural practices of ancient communities, making them important archaeological artifacts, study author Alejandro Valenzuela said. Before now, historical records indicated that thrushes were 'exclusively a luxury food item for elite banquets' and consumed only by the 'upper echelons of Roman society,' according to Valenzuela. The presence of thrush bones among waste deposits of urban kitchens of shops associated with 'lower and middle-class' residents challenges this view, according to Valenzuela. 'This evidence suggests that thrushes were commonly sold and consumed in Roman urban spaces,' Valenzuela said, adding they were 'part of the everyday diet of urban populations.' Valenzuela said it is likely that the thrushes were pan-fried at the market in Pollentia — a common Roman culinary practice of the time, particularly among street vendors who needed to serve food quickly. Thrushes migrate to Mallorca in the winter, so urban vendors likely took advantage of their seasonal availability to diversify their menus — 'a sophisticated economic strategy,' according to the study. Elite members of society distinguished themselves by breeding thrushes, making them available year-round, according to the of Pollentia began in the early twentieth century, according to experts at Institute of Archaeology of the University of Barcelona. Mallorca is one of Spain's Balearic Islands.
