Imagine discovering a perfectly preserved chicken egg that is approximately a thousand years old. This incredible feat occurred recently in Israel, when researchers found the egg in a pit in the ancient city of Yavneh. Although its delicacy resulted in a small crack during removal, its preservation over the centuries is truly impressive.
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a surprising revelation
The surprising conservation of the egg over so many years can be attributed to a curious fact. It was encased in soft human waste, creating anaerobic, i.e., oxygen-free, conditions that prevented it from decomposing. Even the freshest eggs found on supermarket shelves are unlikely to last very long.
With extreme care, the researchers removed the egg from the pit under the supervision of an experienced conservation specialist. Although the shell cracked, Ilan Naor, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority's (IAA) Organic Materials Conservation Laboratory, was able to repair the crack. Although some of its contents were leaked, a small amount of the yolk was preserved for future DNA analysis.
This intriguing discovery occurred during an excavation carried out before the development of a new neighborhood in the Israeli city. In addition to the egg, the pit also contained three dolls made of bone, characteristic of the time, and an oil lamp.
This extraordinary archaeological revelation, in addition to providing insights into ancient life and customs, sheds light on the role of chickens in the past. Expert on ancient world poultry, archaeologist Lee Perry Gal, says chickens were domesticated in Southeast Asia about 6,000 years ago. However, it took some time for them to become a significant part of the human diet.
The chicken egg in history and animal husbandry practices in the past
Initially, these birds were used for other purposes, such as cockfighting, as well as being prized for their beauty and displayed in ancient zoos or offered as gifts to royalty. The discovery of this complete egg, while rare, highlights the importance of chickens in history and reveals the complexity of animal husbandry practices in the past.
Other evidence found in previous research also points to the creation of birds for purposes other than food consumption. A study carried out with bones of British birds, about 3 thousand years old, revealed that chickens of that time lived between 2 and 4 years, much longer than their offspring in modern industrial breeding systems, which have a short lifespan of just 33 to 81 days.
These recent and past findings reinforce the notion that animal husbandry in the past served purposes beyond food. They were often bred for sacred or entertainment reasons, going beyond their role as a food source.
These practices go back to ancient traditions, such as those of the British mentioned by Julius Caesar, who considered it taboo to consume hare, chicken or goose, although they raised these animals for their own enjoyment and pleasure.
