I read this morning about an ancient home that was found in Britain. The archeologist estimate the it was built about 4,000 years before Stonehedge.
That’s about nine thousand years ago.
(And I thought my house was old).
Of particular interest, they are finding a preponderance of Hazelnut shells around the site which leads them to assume that Hazelnuts made up a significant majority of their diet.
They speculate that “based on the many ancient shells found surrounding its exterior, the home’s first inhabitants must have eaten a lot of hazelnuts.”
ASIDE: Archeologists could do a survey on my house in nine thousand years and say “based on the preponderance of really messy diapers, they must have eaten a lot of blueberries.”
And they would be right.
But back to our story….
For some reason, the Hazelnut shells were then burned and buried around the house. The archeologists wondered if there might have been a comforting aroma from hazelnuts that these home owners enjoyed, perhaps reminiscent of a good meal.
And that made me pause….
All they eat is Hazelnuts.
Every day.
Every meal.
Now I wonder, would you want to be reminded of the “pleasant aroma of hazelnuts” after eating them 17,543 times in a row?
I don’t even like leftovers after the second time.
But I digress…
The part that really got me was this…
The hunter-gatherer residents probably stayed close to home since “they could obtain all that they needed locally.”
All that they needed.
Just a WHOLE LOT OF Hazelnuts
Now that’s a simple life.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
What else do you need when you have hazelnuts?
Mmm hazelnuts! I wonder if they were thin… maybe we could start a new fad diet?
Stopping by from SITS!
Popped in from SITS to say hi!
Maybe they didn't just only eat nuts, but had to eat nuts outside so you didn't stend on shells…
Yeah, I like me some Nutella every once in awhile. But breakfast, lunch and dinner? Ack.
We'd so be in trouble… my kids don't eat nuts. Maybe they ate them outside because mom didn't want her house treated like Texas Roadhouse (you know, where they serve peanuts from the barrell and you can throw them on the floor?)
You keep getting better and better! Great post!
Sharon, I just could not let this pass.
I love your sense of humor. I wonder what archeologists would find 4000yrs from now around my home…
lots of peanuts I presume..
Very cute about the blueberries!
Actually hazelnuts are a major crop in Turkey and very popular with the populace. Quite high in protein.
I happen to like them myself except the shell is extremely hard so I crack them with a hammer. But I have been in the presence of Turks that just crack them open with their teeth.
We could learn from our ancestors, stay close to home, eat what is available and natural, enjoy it.
Excellent post. Very fun and enlightening. I won't look at hazelnuts the same way again.