3,600-Year-Old cheese Found in Coffin with Mummies

Scientists have made an extraordinary discovery in Xinjiang, China: the world’s oldest piece of cheese, dating back 3,600 years. This ancient dairy product was found laid across the neck of a mummified young woman in a coffin excavated from the Xiaohe Cemetery, a site first explored two decades ago.

The Discovery
Originally uncovered in 2003, the cheese has now been identified as the oldest known cheese ever found. According to Fu Qiaomei, a paleogeneticist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, the cheese has transformed into a dry, dense substance, resembling hard dust rather than its original soft form. The well-preserved coffin, buried in the arid climate of the Tarim Basin desert, contained not only the cheese but also the woman's boots and hat.

Cultural Significance
The presence of cheese in the coffin indicates its importance in the lives of the Xiaohe people, now known as Xinjiang. The burial customs of this ancient culture often included significant items, suggesting that cheese held value for the deceased.

Scientific Insights
Researchers conducted dna analysis on samples from three tombs in the Xiaohe Cemetery, revealing insights into the lifestyles and animal husbandry practices of the time. The cheese was identified as kefir cheese, made from fermented milk using kefir grains, and was produced from both goat and cow’s milk. This discovery highlights how the Xiaohe population, despite being genetically lactose intolerant, consumed dairy products before the advent of pasteurization and refrigeration, as cheese production reduces lactose content.

The research team noted, “We were able to interrogate the dna information of a Lactobacillus species that was regularly propagated and consumed by humans over thousands of years.” Their findings, published in the journal Cell, demonstrate that these kefir cheese samples are among the few preserved dairy remains from over 3,000 years ago, produced by the Bronze Age Xiaohe population.

A Humorous Note
When asked whether the ancient cheese was still edible and if she would try it, Fu humorously declined, stating, “No way.” This finding not only sheds light on ancient dietary practices but also enriches our understanding of cultural significance surrounding food in ancient societies.
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Sudha Subbiah

29/09/2024 05:03 PM