A team of Italian and American
archaeologists have discovered at a southern Iraq site what is
believed to have been a sort of refrigerator used for keeping
food cool and conserving it in ancient Sumeria 5,000 years ago.
The discovery of the 'tavern' was made at the site of the
capital of one of the most important Mesopotamian city states,
ancient Lagash, at present day Tell al-Hiba.
Archaeologists from Pisa university and Pennsylvania University
have found what they have described as an open-air eating area
with benches, an oven, food conservation containers, remains of
ancient food and the so-called 'fridge' called a 'zeer', an Arab
term describing the 'vase-in-a-vase' technique of preserving
food and drink against the heat.
The 2,700 BC inn has been found just 50 centimetres from the
surface at Tell al-Hiba.
"The discovery sheds new light on the study of diet and cooking
in Mesopotamia, hitherto largely known and examined via texts,
which however do not cover the oldest periods of the Sumerians,"
said Sara Pizzimenti, a lecturer in archaeology and history of
near east art at the university of Pisa.
"Inside a public place for the production, distribution and
consumption of meals, which probably took place in the large
courtyard with benches, around a hundred bowls with food remains
have been found together with devices for the conservation of
food and drink".
photo: Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad
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