A recent study suggests that people in ancient Syria had diets remarkably similar to today’s “Mediterranean diet,” primarily consisting of grains, grapes, olives, and limited amounts of dairy and meat. This research, published on June 12 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, was conducted by Benjamin T. Fuller from the University of Leuven, Belgium, Simone Riehl from the University of Tübingen, Germany, and their colleagues.
The archaeological site of Tell Tweini, located near the Syrian coastal city of Jableh, holds artifacts from the early Bronze Age (around 2600 BCE) to the Iron Age, nearly 2300 years later. In their study, researchers employed isotopic analyses of plant, animal, and human remains from Tell Tweini to trace nutrient flow through the food chain and agricultural practices over millennia.
Significant findings emerged from the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1600 BCE). Human remains from this era exhibited low levels of δ15N, a nitrogen isotope indicative of a plant-based diet, mainly comprising grains and olives.
Additionally, the discovery of sheep, goat, and cattle remains at Tell Tweini suggests that these animals were sometimes consumed and milked, indicating that the local population incorporated some animal protein into their diet. This eating pattern closely resembles the modern Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes grains, fruits, and vegetables while limiting animal products, and is celebrated for its health benefits.
Further isotopic analyses from Tell Tweini provide insights into the climate and agricultural practices of its inhabitants. For instance, the high levels of the carbon isotope δ13C found in grape remains suggest that these fruits were well-watered and carefully cultivated throughout the site’s history.
The study’s authors highlight the advancements in archaeological science that allow for more precise speculation about ancient diets. “Thanks to the interdisciplinary and technical progress of archaeological science, we can not only speculate on the existence of a long cultural tradition of the Mediterranean diet through taxonomic and typological determinations, but also extend these findings through additional analyses, e.g., of stable isotopes in human, animal, and plant remains, and thus contribute to a better understanding of the emergence of cultural traditions in their anchoring in environmental and social dynamics,” they stated.