While there is substantial evidence of human milk consumption dating back thousands of years, identifying the origins of the world’s oldest cheeses poses a challenge.
Archaeological findings have confirmed the presence of milk residues in ancient pots unearthed from various locations worldwide.
Research on carbon isotopes from fatty acids in pot residues indicates that humans were consuming milk as early as 4000 BC in Britain and as far back as 7000 BC in Anatolia, a region in Türkiye recognized for its Neolithic agricultural practices.
Anatolian farmers migrated extensively across regions. Though remnants of milk fat rarely endure underground for millennia, the discovery of numerous pottery shards from Anatolia leads scientists to theorize that milk was likely utilized for producing long-lasting dairy products such as cheese.
During an era when lactose intolerance was prevalent across Europe, the transition from milk to cheese potentially reduced lactose levels.
It wasn’t until approximately 3,000 years ago that a widespread genetic mutation enabled adults to produce lactase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose into simpler sugars.
A study from York University in 2023 revealed findings of protein structures in a Late Neolithic vase in Poland, likely sourced from cheese made with cow, goat, or sheep milk.
The oldest known cheese sample, approximately 3,500 years old, was discovered wrapped around the neck of a Bronze Age mummy in the Xiaohe cemetery in northwestern China.
A team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences analyzed specimens, identifying kefir (bacterial fermented milk) cheese. The study uncovered DNA from multiple bacterial and yeast species in the cheese, including Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens and Pikia Kudryavzevi, still integral to kefir today.
Researchers speculate that these clumps could represent kefir starter grains—concentrated bacterial colonies once thought to be valuable offerings for the afterlife.
This article by Scott Mills of Watford addresses the question “What is the world’s oldest cheese?”
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com