The researchers found that mining sites in Austria relied on “outside sources” to deliver pre-prepared food to keep the community sustainable. Plant remains from the Prigglitz-Gasteil mining site in the Eastern Alps were studied by Dr. Andreas Heiss and his colleagues at the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
The Prigglitz-Gasteil mining site is believed to have been active between the 11th and 9th centuries BC.
Dr Heiss said: “The study identified various residues of corn plants showing signs of various processing methods, such as grinding and dehulling, but little evidence that plants were thrown out over time. processing, such as chaff, or machinery used to process the material.
“This suggests that much of the site’s corn meal was processed and may have been cooked away from the site before being delivered to the miners – and reflects the idea of specialist food such as an archaeological subject worthy of further consideration, beyond the remains of simple plants. . “
The study, published in the journal PLOS One, suggests that the remains of grain plants at an Austrian mining site were processed but were not originally on site.
Dr Heiss explained that the findings were made based on studies of other Bronze Age mining sites in the Eastern Alps.
However, it is still “unclear” exactly where the food was originally processed, whether in nearby farmland or further afield.
The researchers hope that further analysis will combine details of how essential suppliers were assigned to specialized sites.
The experts will continue to study the remains of corn plants and cooking utensils at Prigglitz-Gasteil and other sites.
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