Archaeologists say ancient cooking in Europe may have been far more sophisticated than previously believed. New research suggests that prehistoric communities were preparing complex meals with a mix of plant and animal ingredients thousands of years ago.
The discovery comes from an international study led by archaeobotanist Lara Gonzalez Carretero from the University of York in the United Kingdom. The findings were published in the open-access journal PLOS One.
For many years, scientists believed that early hunter-gatherers in Europe mainly relied on simple foods such as fish or meat. However, new evidence from ancient pottery suggests their meals may have included a wider range of ingredients.
Researchers examined food residues preserved inside pottery fragments that date back roughly 6,000 years. These residues formed when food was cooked in ceramic vessels, leaving hardened crusts that survived for millennia.
Inside these crusts, scientists discovered microscopic remains of plants and animals, offering rare insight into prehistoric cooking habits. The study suggests that early cooks were combining ingredients to create mixed dishes rather than relying on a single food source.
Ancient pottery reveals diverse ingredients
The research team analyzed residues from 58 pottery fragments collected at 13 archaeological sites across Northern and Eastern Europe. The vessels date from between the sixth and third millennium B.C., a time when pottery became more common among hunter-gatherer societies.
Using both chemical analysis and microscopic examination, scientists studied the hardened food remains left inside the pots. This method allowed them to identify tiny pieces of plant tissue that earlier studies may have missed.
The analysis revealed evidence of many plant types, including grasses, berries, seeds, and leaves. These remains suggest that plant ingredients played a regular role in prehistoric diets.
6,000-year-old pots are revealing that prehistoric Europeans cooked surprisingly complex meals. Researchers found traces of grasses, berries, leaves, seeds, and fish in ancient pottery across Northern and Eastern Europe. pic.twitter.com/jNrsF9bGir
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) March 5, 2026
At the same time, many samples also contained traces of animal foods. Fish and other aquatic species appeared most frequently in the pottery.
The discovery of both plant and animal remains in the same vessels indicates that ancient communities likely cooked mixed meals. Researchers believe prehistoric cooks combined locally available foods to prepare more varied dishes.
Differences in ingredients between sites also suggest that cooking traditions varied by region, shaped by local environments and resources.
Pottery may have transformed prehistoric cooking
Scientists have long used chemical analysis of fats preserved in pottery to study ancient diets. Those methods are effective at detecting animal products such as meat, dairy, or fish, but they often fail to capture evidence of plant foods.
The new study addressed this gap by pairing chemical testing with microscopic analysis of plant fragments trapped in food crusts.
According to researchers, this combined method offers a clearer picture of prehistoric meals. The results show that pottery vessels likely played an important role in expanding cooking techniques. Ceramic containers made it easier to boil or mix multiple ingredients together.
Researchers say these ancient food residues reveal that early hunter-gatherer communities were not surviving on simple meals alone. Instead, they were preparing diverse dishes using both plants and aquatic foods.
The findings provide a deeper look into everyday life thousands of years ago and suggest that prehistoric cooks were far more creative in the kitchen than once believed.