Ceramics provide insights into medieval Islamic cuisine
Organic residue indicates a diverse and varied culinary culture across
Sicily

Date:
June 10, 2021
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
Organic residues on ceramic pottery are a valuable resource for
understanding medieval cuisines of Islamic-ruled Sicily, according
to a new study.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Organic residues on ceramic pottery are a valuable resource for
understanding medieval cuisines of Islamic-ruled Sicily, according to
a study published June 9, 2021 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by
Jasmine Lundy of the University of York, UK and colleagues.


========================================================================== During the 9th to 12th century AD, Sicily was under Islamic rule. This transition is known to have profoundly impacted the region, and the
capital city of Palermo thrived as an economic and cultural center of
the Mediterranean Islamic world. But little is known about how the lives
of people in the region were impacted during this important time period.

In this study, researchers examined organic residues of plant and animal products on ceramic pottery to gain insights into the cuisine of the time.

They tested 134 cooking pots and other similar containers, dating between
the 9th and 12th century AD, from the urban city of Palermo and the
rural town of Casale San Pietro. The results indicate a wide variety
of vegetables, fruits, beeswax and animal food products, complementing
other archaeological evidence.

The authors highlight some notable differences between rural and urban cuisines, including the greater frequency of grapes and dairy products
in the rural site.

This study is a profound demonstration of the utility of organic residue analysis for understanding cuisine of Islamic ruled Sicily. The mixture
of a diverse assortment of food products is consistent with the colorful
dishes noted in Arabic literature, and the differences observed between
rural and urban sites suggests there is more to be learned about how
cultures differed across Sicilian society. Further studies using similar techniques will expand our understanding of how cuisine preferences and
use of ceramics changed while Sicily was under Islamic rule.

The authors add: "Analysis of residues preserved in pottery has, for
the first time, revealed important insight into cuisine in medieval
Islamic Sicily. We have identified a diverse range of products
processed in cooking wares, as well as regional differences in the use
of ceramics such as for the processing of dairy and grapevine products." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jasmine Lundy, Lea Drieu, Antonino Meo, Viva Sacco, Lucia Arcifa,
Elena
Pezzini, Veronica Aniceti, Girolamo Fiorentino, Michelle Alexander,
Paola Orecchioni, Alessandra Mollinari, Martin O. H. Carver,
Oliver E. Craig.

New insights into early medieval Islamic cuisine: Organic residue
analysis of pottery from rural and urban Sicily. PLOS ONE, 2021;
16 (6): e0252225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252225 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210610091030.htm

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