Beijing, China
In an astonishing discovery, the archaeologists found the oldest cheese spread over the heads and necks of several mummies unearthed in China.
Scientists extracted the DNA of the ancient cheese - which dates back 3,600 years - to find its key ingredients.
In the analysis, it was revealed that this ancient cheese was made using kefir which is a fermented milk drink and is good for gut health.
The cheese-smeared mummies were discovered by a team of archaeologists in the Xiaohe cemetery in Northwestern China's Tarim Basin.
The mummies were said to be dating back to around 3,300 to 3,600 years ago from the Bronze Age.
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When this cheese was discovered more than two decades ago, scientists had failed to identify it. However, advanced DNA analysis has finally helped scientists identify the substance which turned out to be cheese.
Here's what DNA revealed about world's ancient cheese
In the analysis, the DNA of cow and goat were found in the cheese sample and it was confirmed that the white substance was in fact kefir cheese.
In the three different tombs, samples
The samples from three different tombs contained species of bacteria and fungi including Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens and Pichia kudriavzevii - both commonly found in present-day kefir grains.
Kefir grains are a type of microorganisms which contain different species of probiotic bacteria and yeast that ferment milk into kefir cheese.
Speaking about the discovery, the head of the ancient DNA lab at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor Qiaomei Fu said, "This is the oldest known cheese sample ever discovered in the world."
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“Food items like cheese are extremely difficult to preserve over thousands of years, making this a rare and valuable opportunity. Studying the ancient cheese in great detail can help us better understand our ancestors’ diet and culture," he added.
"This is an unprecedented study, allowing us how to observe how a bacterium evolved over the past 3,000 years. By examining dairy products, we've gained a clearer picture of ancient human life and their interactions with the world," the professor explained.
(With inputs from agencies)