In the 1990s, hundreds of coffins containing human remains were found in the Xiaohe Cemetery in China's Tarim Basin. But there was some kind of white substance on their heads and necks.
Chinese Academy of Sciences Scientists The latest analytical techniques had to be used to identify anomalies that were found decades ago.
After the discovery of cow and goat DNA in Bronze Age material, it was confirmed that pieces of cheese had been found on human remains.
The researchers were able to analyze a mixture of bacteria and yeasts on the cheese samples, which they called the oldest cheese samples. One researcher commented on the discovery:
Foods like cheese are very difficult to preserve for thousands of years, so this is a very rare and valuable find.
Additional analyzes showed that the cheese contained a high amount of Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens, an important preservative. These microorganisms are still used to this day to make cheese. The researchers were able to link this ancient species of L. kefiranofaciens to a related strain from Tibet, suggesting that this is where the bacteria came from.
The hypothesis is that it was used to extend the shelf life of cheese and overcome lactose intolerance. This made it easier for them to digest animal dairy products.
The study is also interesting because it provides a glimpse into how bacteria have evolved over the past 3,000 years. It is a mystery how the cheese ended up in the grave, but perhaps they accompanied the dead into the afterlife as an earthly delicacy.
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