The world's oldest cheese was found in a rather unexpected place: it was decorating a mummy's neck (photo)
During excavations in western China, a mummy dating back 3,600 years was discovered. On the neck of the deceased woman, researchers found a necklace made of an unusual material. As it turned out later, it was the oldest sample of cheese ever found by scientists.
Detailed DNA analysis revealed that it was kefir cheese. This discovery was made possible thanks to modern technologies that allow us to extract genetic information from materials that have been stored for thousands of years. Scientists have found that the cheese was made from the milk of goats and cows, using the same bacteria and yeast that are used to produce modern kefir, Cell magazine writes.
This finding is of great importance for science. It shows that dairy production has a much older history than previously thought. In addition, the discovery indicates that kefir cultures were much more widespread than previously thought. Scientists suggest that nomadic tribes traveling across Eurasia contributed to the spread of kefir.
Interestingly, cheese was not just food, but also had a ritual significance. By burying a woman with a cheese necklace, people of that time probably wanted to provide her with food in the afterlife or emphasize her status.
Earlier, we told you that the mystery of the lead coffin under Notre Dame has been solved.
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