Which Historical Foods Do We Still Eat Today?

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Dried Meat

The oldest remains of edible dried meat date back about 4,000 years,  and were discovered in the region of South Africa at the archaeological site of Melkboom, near the town of Clanwilliam. At this site, pieces of dried meat from antelope and sheep were found preserved in dry conditions.

Dried meat is a method of food preservation that has been used by various cultures around the world since ancient times. Dehydration of meat by sun-drying, smoking, or air-drying allows it to be preserved longer by removing much of the water present in the meat, which often inhibits the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms.

Dried meat remains from Melkboom provide early evidence of this practice in human food. Examples of dried meat have also been found in other regions, such as at archaeological sites of Native American cultures in North America, where jerky from bison meat has been found dating back some 2,500 years.

These discoveries show us how our ancestors used food preservation techniques to ensure food availability over long periods of time.