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Detecting milk proteins in ancient pots

Author

Listed:
  • Oliver Craig

    (Fossil Fuels and Environmental Geochemistry, NRG, Drummond Building, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne)

  • Jacqui Mulville

    (English Heritage, Oxford University Museum)

  • Mike Parker Pearson

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Robert Sokol

    (Regional Blood Transfusion Centre)

  • Keith Gelsthorpe

    (Regional Blood Transfusion Centre)

  • Rebecca Stacey

    (University of Bradford)

  • Matthew Collins

    (Fossil Fuels and Environmental Geochemistry, NRG, Drummond Building, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne)

Abstract

Deciding whether to farm cattle for milk or beef was just as complex in the past as it is today. Compared with meat production, dairying is a high-input, high-output, high-risk operation indicative of an intensive, sophisticated economy, but this practice is notoriously difficult to demonstrate in the archaeological record1. Here we provide evidence for the presence of milk proteins preserved in prehistoric vessels, which to our knowledge have not been detected before. This finding resolves the controversy that has surrounded dairying on the Scottish Atlantic coast during the Iron Age2,3,4,5 and indicates that farming by the early inhabitants of this harsh, marginal environment was surprisingly well developed.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver Craig & Jacqui Mulville & Mike Parker Pearson & Robert Sokol & Keith Gelsthorpe & Rebecca Stacey & Matthew Collins, 2000. "Detecting milk proteins in ancient pots," Nature, Nature, vol. 408(6810), pages 312-312, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:408:y:2000:i:6810:d:10.1038_35042684
    DOI: 10.1038/35042684
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