Archaeologists Discover World's Oldest Cheese on Xinjiang Bronze Age Mummies

Sep 25, 2024, 03:57 PM

Archaeologists have discovered the world's oldest cheese smeared on mummified human remains in the Xinjiang region of China. The cheese, which dates back to the Bronze Age, offers insights into the origins of the dairy product known as kefir. Chinese scientists were able to identify Lactobacillus genomes, which are crucial for the fermentation process of kefir cheese. This finding provides valuable information about ancient dietary practices and the cultural significance of cheese in burial rituals with Xinjiang mummies.