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Flour is Ancient - Grinding Machine

Flour is as old as 30,000 years

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Flour is such a common ingredient that we use almost every day in soups, bread, cookies and many other types of food. Not only that but it has been used for thousands of years in almost every civilization on Earth. Have you ever wondered who came up with the initial idea to grind flour for so many uses? And who would think that this has been happening for at least the last 30,000 years.

Multiple archaeological findings have shown that flour in many different uses has been used for millennia. Two simple stones have been used to grind different seeds, nuts and bones. One large one, stable on the ground, and a small one light enough to use it and through the application of pressure to create the thin powder.

Similar equipment has also been used for pottery, in order to prepare non-edible powder (paint pigments) that would be used to paint clay.

One of the oldest discovered evidence for the production of flour comes from a 25,000 year- old hunter site in Italy – no wonder Italy is famous for their pasta!  Among the artefacts found there was a stone grinder with traces of starch grains and use wear patterns showing the method of grinding to be back and forth. Other Palaeolithic sites in Russia have revealed that flour production was known in Europe at least 30,000 years ago. From early humans to ancient Egyptians and to modern civilizations, flour was an important ingredient.

By John Black

 
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John Black

Dr John (Ioannis) Syrigos initially began writing on Ancient Origins under the pen name John Black. He is both a co-owner and co-founder of Ancient Origins.

John is a computer & electrical engineer with a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, a... Read More

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