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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Meadowcroft RockshelterMeadowcroft RockshelterMechanical Harvesting Becomes a CombineMechanical Harvesting Becomes a CombineMechanical Milking Moves Dairy toward Industrial ScaleMechanical Milking Moves Dairy toward Industrial ScaleMehrgarh’s First FarmersMehrgarh’s First FarmersMeiji Tokyo’s Changing DietMeiji Tokyo’s Changing DietMesa Verde Cliff CommunitiesMesa Verde Cliff CommunitiesMesa Verde Pueblo Ceremonial FeastMesa Verde Pueblo Ceremonial FeastMesoamerican Chinampa AgricultureMesoamerican Chinampa AgricultureMesopotamian Canal Irrigation Expands Cereal FarmingMesopotamian Canal Irrigation Expands Cereal FarmingMexico’s Soda and Snack EnvironmentMexico’s Soda and Snack EnvironmentMicrowave Cooking Becomes a Household TechnologyMicrowave Cooking Becomes a Household TechnologyMigratory Pollination Becomes an Agricultural IndustryMigratory Pollination Becomes an Agricultural IndustryMilitary Canning Expands under NapoleonMilitary Canning Expands under NapoleonMilk Before Lactase Persistence at KadrukaMilk Before Lactase Persistence at KadrukaMing China Famine of 1437–1439Ming China Famine of 1437–1439Ming Wanli Imperial Birthday BanquetMing Wanli Imperial Birthday BanquetMinoan KnossosMinoan KnossosMitsukoshi's Food Hall and the Birth of the DepachikaMitsukoshi's Food Hall and the Birth of the DepachikaMoche Sacrificial Feast at Huaca de la LunaMoche Sacrificial Feast at Huaca de la LunaMoctezuma II Hosts CortésMoctezuma II Hosts CortésMoctezuma II’s Court BanquetMoctezuma II’s Court BanquetMohenjo-daro HouseholdsMohenjo-daro HouseholdsMohenjo-daro’s Predecessors at MehrgarhMohenjo-daro’s Predecessors at MehrgarhMonastic Kitchens Organize Institutional FeedingMonastic Kitchens Organize Institutional FeedingMöngke Khan’s Karakorum Court FeastMöngke Khan’s Karakorum Court FeastMonosodium Glutamate Is CommercializedMonosodium Glutamate Is CommercializedMonte Verde SettlersMonte Verde SettlersMount Sandel River CampMount Sandel River CampMovable-Frame Beehive Transforms ApicultureMovable-Frame Beehive Transforms ApicultureMRD: Lucy’s Earlier RelativeMRD: Lucy’s Earlier RelativeMuisca El Dorado Ceremony at Lake GuatavitaMuisca El Dorado Ceremony at Lake GuatavitaMunicipal Food-Waste Collection BeginsMunicipal Food-Waste Collection BeginsMurad III’s 1582 Circumcision FestivalMurad III’s 1582 Circumcision FestivalMurata Jukō Establishes the Aesthetic of Wabi-ChaMurata Jukō Establishes the Aesthetic of Wabi-ChaMurnong Management in Southeastern AustraliaMurnong Management in Southeastern AustraliaMycenae Palace Festival FeastMycenae Palace Festival FeastMycenae’s Palace EconomyMycenae’s Palace EconomyMyPlate Replaces the Food PyramidMyPlate Replaces the Food PyramidNabta Playa HerdersNabta Playa HerdersNabta Playa Seasonal Cattle GatheringNabta Playa Seasonal Cattle GatheringNailed Horseshoes Extend Equine Farm WorkNailed Horseshoes Extend Equine Farm WorkNanzhuangtou Pottery and PlantsNanzhuangtou Pottery and PlantsNapoleon III Hosts Queen Victoria at VersaillesNapoleon III Hosts Queen Victoria at VersaillesNapoleon’s Coronation BanquetNapoleon’s Coronation BanquetNara Court Adopts Tang Chinese Banquet CultureNara Court Adopts Tang Chinese Banquet CultureNara Temple Sake Guilds Dominate Japan's BrewingNara Temple Sake Guilds Dominate Japan's BrewingNarezushi: Fermented Fish as Tax and DelicacyNarezushi: Fermented Fish as Tax and DelicacyNatufians of EynanNatufians of EynanNauru’s Rapid Nutrition TransitionNauru’s Rapid Nutrition TransitionNazca Desert FarmersNazca Desert FarmersNeanderthals of GibraltarNeanderthals of GibraltarNeolithic Britain’s Milk PotsNeolithic Britain’s Milk PotsNero’s Golden House BanquetNero’s Golden House BanquetNess of Brodgar Monumental FeastNess of Brodgar Monumental FeastNew York’s Tenement TableNew York’s Tenement TableNewfoundland Cod Becomes a Global CommodityNewfoundland Cod Becomes a Global CommodityNewgrange Farming CommunityNewgrange Farming CommunityNewgrange Solstice Gathering FeastNewgrange Solstice Gathering FeastNiah Cave ForagersNiah Cave ForagersNicolas Appert and Canned FoodNicolas Appert and Canned Food