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Time of India
24-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Study reveals the shocking way ancient Romans procured 'luxury' meat
Image credits: Canva (Representative image) While meat may have been a staple in the diet during the good old days, not every kind of meat was accessible to all. It seems the difference between the diet of the ones with a luxurious lifestyle and those with the ordinary existed back then as well. Thus, in order to indulge once in a while, ordinary people had to procure the 'luxury meat' in unique ways. In a recently published research entitled "Urban Consumption of Thrushes in the Early Roman City of Pollentia, Mallorca," Alejandro Valenzuela, a researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies in Mallorca, discovered some previously unknown information on how Romans consumed thrushes, a type of small bird. Until now, it was assumed that in the ancient Roman era, thrushes were a delicacy and were only reserved for the rich. However, Valenzuela found that these birds were also consumed by the masses through a peculiar source. The source was found in a first-century cesspit in Mallorca, Spain where the bones of multiple species of animals were discovered. The pit was once connected to a fast-food shop called a taberna. Thus, just like the modern day where we head to restaurants to eat lavishly prepared luxurious delicacies, the ordinary ancient Romans headed to the tabernae, which were essentially local fast food shops. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 누르기만 해도 이득! 꽝없는 모발이식 할인 찬스 모발이식센터 더 읽기 Undo 'The key takeaway is that thrushes, once considered a luxury delicacy reserved for the Roman elite, were actually part of the everyday foodscape in cities like Pollentia,' said Valenzuela in his conversation with Fox News Digital. These establishments like tabernae and popinae primarily served the working-class urban populations offering quick and affordable meals, he said. He added how the discovery changed the perspectives and assumptions and how archaeological evidence especially from refuse contexts like cesspits can provide direct insights into the daily life, food habits and economic strategies of the ordinary people of the ancient world. The ancient Roman diet Image credits: Getty Images Along with the discovery of the taberna, the cesspit consisted of remains of other animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, fish and shellfish, revealing the range of variation in the Roman diet. 'These spaces likely served stews, small fried or grilled meats, legumes and wine – meals convenient for those without kitchens at home,' Valenzuela said. In terms of cooking methods, he revealed that thrushes were most likely pan-fried instead of grilled as per the evidence at the site. Additionally, speed and simplicity of taste also mattered in service. 'Frying in oil was a common Roman technique for small birds, especially in urban food settings where speed and simplicity were key,' he said. How did Romans cook and sell 'luxury' meat? Archaeologists found that the thrushes' skeletons were missing large, meatier bones like femurs and humeri. 'The presence of fragmented sterna supports the idea that the birds were flattened to allow for quick cooking,' posited the researcher. He also added that the people likely enjoyed these meats with vinegar, herbs, spices and a fermented fish sauce called garum. 'Small birds could be served on skewers or simple ceramic plates,' he said. T he expert added, 'The fact that thrushes were sold in bundles of 10, as per Diocletian's Price Edict, also suggests they were prepared in quantity, likely for immediate consumption by hand or on simple serving ware.' The researcher also compared Roman cooking to American fast food adding that the Romans served most parts of the animal. 'In Pollentia, pig remains dominate the assemblage, and the presence of cranial and foot bones suggests that less-valued parts were also processed and consumed, likely as broths or stews,' Valenzuela said. After reading of thrushes as the luxury meat from Roman times one would at least wonder how they tasted. Well, according to Valenzuela their taste is more similar to small game birds like quail or woodcock- lean, slightly gamey and rich, especially when pan-fried or roasted. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
New York Post
23-06-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Ordinary ancient Romans ate ‘luxury' meat at ‘fast-food shops,' new research reveals
Newly published research is providing a fascinating glimpse into how ancient Romans enjoyed their fast food — shedding more light on life in antiquity. In a recent journal article entitled 'Urban Consumption of Thrushes in the Early Roman City of Pollentia, Mallorca,' researcher Alejandro Valenzuela discovered previously unknown information about how Romans consumed thrushes, a type of small bird. Until now, it was assumed that thrushes were a delicacy, reserved only for the rich. But Valenzuela found that these birds were actually consumed by the masses. The proof, Valenzuela said, was found in a first-century cesspit in Mallorca, Spain, where the bones of multiple species of animals were found. The pit was once connected to a fast-food shop called a taberna. Valenzuela, a researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies in Mallorca, spoke with Fox News Digital about his findings. 'The key takeaway is that thrushes, once considered a luxury delicacy reserved for the Roman elite, were actually part of the everyday foodscape in cities like Pollentia,' the antiquity expert revealed. 'This challenges long-held assumptions and highlights how archaeological evidence – especially from refuse contexts like cesspits – can give us direct insight into daily life, food habits and economic strategies of ordinary people in the ancient world.' 3 Until now, it was assumed that thrushes were a delicacy, reserved only for the rich. Luigi Spina/Electa/Mondadori Portfolio At the Pollentia site, archaeologists also found the remains of pigs, sheep, goat, fish and shellfish – showing how varied the Roman diet was. 'Frying in oil was a common Roman technique for small birds, especially in urban food settings where speed and simplicity were key.' 'These spaces likely served stews, small fried or grilled meats, legumes and wine – meals convenient for those without kitchens at home,' Valenzuela said. In terms of cooking methods used, Valenzuela said thrushes were likely pan-fried instead of grilled, according to the evidence at the site. 'Frying in oil was a common Roman technique for small birds, especially in urban food settings where speed and simplicity were key,' he said. 3 At the Pollentia site, archaeologists also found the remains of pigs, sheep, goat, fish and shellfish – showing how varied the Roman diet was. Getty Images Archaeologists also found that thrushes' skeletons were missing large, meatier bones like femurs and humeri. 'The presence of fragmented sterna supports the idea that the birds were flattened to allow for quick cooking,' he posited. Ancient Romans likely enjoyed these meats with vinegar, herbs, spices and a fermented fish sauce called garum, according to Valenzuela. 'Small birds could be served on skewers or simple ceramic plates,' he said. The expert added, 'The fact that thrushes were sold in bundles of 10, as per Diocletian's Price Edict, also suggests they were prepared in quantity, likely for immediate consumption by hand or on simple serving ware.' He said establishments like tabernae and popinaeprimarily served working-class urban populations, offering quick and affordable meals. The flavor isn't exactly like chicken, the researcher said. The classicist also stressed that Roman cooking was highly resourceful and, unlike American fast food today, urban vendors served most parts of the animal. 'In Pollentia, pig remains dominate the assemblage, and the presence of cranial and foot bones suggests that less-valued parts were also processed and consumed, likely as broths or stews,' Valenzuela said. 3 Ancient Romans likely enjoyed these meats with vinegar, herbs, spices and a fermented fish sauce called garum, according to Valenzuela. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images 'That said, prime cuts were always more valuable and may have been sold separately or used in specific dishes.' What did these small thrushes taste like? Valenzuela said the flavor isn't exactly like chicken. 'Their taste is more comparable to other small game birds like quail or woodcock,' he said. 'Lean, slightly gamey and rich, especially when pan-fried or roasted.' Though archaeologists only discovered animal bones at the Pollentia site, some excavators have been lucky enough to find preserved Roman food.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Ancient Romans snacked on deep-fried songbirds
Fast food didn't start with McDonald's—quick, convenient meals have been a dietary staple of busy societies for millennia. Across the Roman empire, roadside shops known as popinae and tabernae often served up inexpensive, affordable dishes to hungry locals and travelers alike. But after scouring ancient garbage piles near one such popina in Mallorca, Spain, archeologists are better understanding how certain entrées transcended class divisions more often than previously thought. According to findings recently published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, Roman commoners frequently enjoyed dining on thrushes—small songbirds once thought to be a luxury dish. Birds were prominent figures in ancient Rome. Certain owls and eagles were considered powerful divinatory omens, while smaller avian species like thrushes were popular as both pets and meals. In the latter case, however, ancient texts suggest thrushes were primarily eaten by wealthier Romans. 'Classical sources frequently describe these small birds as a delicacy served in elite banquets, often prepared with elaborate culinary techniques,' the study's authors write. They also cite recipes documented by Pliny the Elder and Apicius that described fattening songbirds with figs before roasting and serving them with complex sauces. These assumptions were recently challenged by finds at an excavation in Mallorca, Spain. There, archeologists from the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA) uncovered a large cesspit beside a roadside popina snack bar. The building also featured six amphorae (large vats) embedded in its countertop in a configuration like the one seen in Pompeii's famous street food court, or thermopolia. Amid the refuse were 165 thrush bones alongside other common food remains like sea shells as well as fish and pig bones. The condition of the songbirds' broken bones suggest that they were flattened and cooked whole with oil in the amphorae. In addition to the thrushes, archeologists also documented remains from domesticated chickens and European rabbits. These point to a wider menu tailored to everyday customers. Taken altogether, it appears that thrushes were served up similar to today's sports bar chicken wings. The food shop in Mallorca isn't the only example of deep-fried songbirds across Rome. As Arkeonews notes, additional finds in Pompeii and Britain indicates a widespread culture of ancient Roman fast food. 'Thrushes, though a minor component of the Roman diet compared to livestock, represent an important facet of urban food consumption,' the study's authors conclude. '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.'
