Food Through History

Every scene here is a reconstruction — a moment in the story of food rebuilt from archaeology, written records and food science, and dated as closely as the evidence allows. Informed visualizations of the past, not photographs of it.

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Grape Wine Travels from Central Asia toward ChinaGrape Wine Travels from Central Asia toward ChinaGreat Benin Court Feast for the ObaGreat Benin Court Feast for the ObaGreat Famine of 1315–1317Great Famine of 1315–1317Great Famine of 1876–1878Great Famine of 1876–1878Great Famine of Estonia and LivoniaGreat Famine of Estonia and LivoniaGreat Frost Famine of 1709Great Frost Famine of 1709Great Northern Chinese FamineGreat Northern Chinese FamineGreat Zimbabwe Elite Cattle FeastGreat Zimbabwe Elite Cattle FeastGreat Zimbabwe’s Cattle WealthGreat Zimbabwe’s Cattle WealthGreat Zimbabwe’s Early LandscapeGreat Zimbabwe’s Early LandscapeGreek Occupation FamineGreek Occupation FamineGreenland Norse FarmersGreenland Norse FarmersGrotta Scaloria Cave Ritual FeastGrotta Scaloria Cave Ritual FeastGuilá Naquitz Early CultivatorsGuilá Naquitz Early CultivatorsGuitarrero Cave Andean Plant UsersGuitarrero Cave Andean Plant UsersGunditjmara Kooyang Aquaculture at Budj BimGunditjmara Kooyang Aquaculture at Budj BimGüyük Khan’s Enthronement FeastGüyük Khan’s Enthronement FeastH5N1 Avian Influenza Emerges in Domestic GeeseH5N1 Avian Influenza Emerges in Domestic GeeseHaber–Bosch Synthetic NitrogenHaber–Bosch Synthetic NitrogenHACCP Emerges from the Space ProgramHACCP Emerges from the Space ProgramHACCP Moves Food Safety toward PreventionHACCP Moves Food Safety toward PreventionHadrian’s Imperial Banquet at TivoliHadrian’s Imperial Banquet at TivoliHaile Selassie’s Coronation BanquetHaile Selassie’s Coronation BanquetHallstatt Salt MinersHallstatt Salt MinersHallstatt Salt Mining Feeds Iron Age EuropeHallstatt Salt Mining Feeds Iron Age EuropeHallstatt Salt-Elite FeastHallstatt Salt-Elite FeastHan Chang’an Imperial CapitalHan Chang’an Imperial CapitalHan Court New-Year BanquetHan Court New-Year BanquetHanaya Yohei Invents Nigirizushi in EdoHanaya Yohei Invents Nigirizushi in EdoHangzhou under the Southern SongHangzhou under the Southern SongHarappa’s Urban Food SystemHarappa’s Urban Food SystemHattusa and Hittite ProvisioningHattusa and Hittite ProvisioningHawaiian Fishpond SystemsHawaiian Fishpond SystemsHawaiian Kapu-System Royal 'Aha'aina FeastHawaiian Kapu-System Royal 'Aha'aina FeastHeian Daijōsai Imperial FeastHeian Daijōsai Imperial FeastHeian Japan Famine of 815–817Heian Japan Famine of 815–817Heian Kyoto’s Court TableHeian Kyoto’s Court TableHellenistic Food Exchange Across Central AsiaHellenistic Food Exchange Across Central AsiaHemudu Rice WetlandsHemudu Rice WetlandsHenan FamineHenan FamineHenry VIII Receives Charles VHenry VIII Receives Charles VHerbicide-Tolerant Crops Scale UpHerbicide-Tolerant Crops Scale UpHerculaneum’s Preserved MealsHerculaneum’s Preserved MealsHerodias, Salome and the Platter at Herod's Birthday BanquetHerodias, Salome and the Platter at Herod's Birthday BanquetHeuneburg Celtic CenterHeuneburg Celtic CenterHeuneburg Elite Mediterranean-Style FeastHeuneburg Elite Mediterranean-Style FeastHideyoshi’s Great Kitano Tea GatheringHideyoshi’s Great Kitano Tea GatheringHierakonpolis Elite Cattle FeastHierakonpolis Elite Cattle FeastHigh-Fructose Corn Syrup Is CommercializedHigh-Fructose Corn Syrup Is CommercializedHighland Potato FamineHighland Potato FamineHindu Cow Protection Becomes a Major Dietary BoundaryHindu Cow Protection Becomes a Major Dietary BoundaryHolodomor and Soviet Ukrainian FamineHolodomor and Soviet Ukrainian FamineHome Refrigerators Enter Mass UseHome Refrigerators Enter Mass UseHomo erectus and the Expensive BodyHomo erectus and the Expensive BodyHomo floresiensis at Liang BuaHomo floresiensis at Liang BuaHomo habilis at OlduvaiHomo habilis at OlduvaiHong Kong Handover BanquetHong Kong Handover BanquetHorses Are Domesticated on the SteppeHorses Are Domesticated on the SteppeHorses Begin Replacing Oxen in European AgricultureHorses Begin Replacing Oxen in European AgricultureHuman Milk Banking Re-emergesHuman Milk Banking Re-emerges