People in China were buried with cheese on their heads & necks as a snack for the afterlife, scientists discover

Who doesn't love a good snack? Whether it's a crunchy bag of chips, a decadent slice of cake for those with a sweet tooth, or a plate of cheesy nachos, snacks have a universal appeal. Interestingly, it turns out that the love for snacks isn't a modern phenomenon; it dates back centuries! Scientists have discovered that during the Bronze Age - between 3300 BCE and 1200 BCE - desert dwellers in northwest China were buried with cheese scattered on their heads and necks. This peculiar practice suggests they were perhaps packing a tasty treat for the afterlife!

Say 'cheese'

Cheese was unearthed from the necks and heads of Bronze Age desert dwellers in northwest China's Taklamakan Desert, where the arid climate remarkably mummified it.

Notably, the world's oldest known cheese, dating back to 1615 BC, was discovered alongside these ancient mummies.

This cheese was found in clumps resting on the bodies of the exceptionally well-preserved mummies in the site Small River Cemetery Number 5.

Credit: Unsplash | Representational image

The site is distinctive because the burial process essentially freeze-dried the bodies, allowing their features, clothing, and even culinary accompaniments to remain intact thousands of years later.

This remarkable preservation can be attributed to the dry air, salty earth, and carefully sealed burial conditions of the region.

World¡¯s oldest-known cheese

Recently, scientists successfully extracted and sequenced DNA from the 3,600-year-old cheese, making it the oldest known in the archaeological record.

Researchers speculate that the ancient cheese was made using a kefir starter, which combines bacteria and yeast with milk. In contrast, most modern cheeses utilize rennet¡ªa digestive enzyme sourced from an animal's stomach¡ªto curdle milk and create the final product.

This groundbreaking analysis has shed light on how the Xiaohe people crafted their cheese, illustrating the innovative ways in which humans have harnessed microbes to enhance their food.

It also highlights how these microbes can serve as markers to trace cultural influences across the ages.

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