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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Niger Food CrisisNiger Food CrisisNixon’s Beijing State BanquetNixon’s Beijing State BanquetNixon’s Shanghai BanquetNixon’s Shanghai BanquetNobel Banquet Returns After the PandemicNobel Banquet Returns After the PandemicNok Farming CommunitiesNok Farming CommunitiesNorth Korean Famine / Arduous MarchNorth Korean Famine / Arduous MarchNortheast Brazil Great Drought FamineNortheast Brazil Great Drought FamineNorthern China Famine and Ming CollapseNorthern China Famine and Ming CollapseNorthern Europe Becomes Dependent on Preserved Marine FishNorthern Europe Becomes Dependent on Preserved Marine FishNovgorod’s Wooden StreetsNovgorod’s Wooden StreetsNutrition Facts Labels Become MandatoryNutrition Facts Labels Become MandatoryNutrition Labels Become Mandatory in the United StatesNutrition Labels Become Mandatory in the United StatesNyayanga ButchersNyayanga ButchersObama’s State Dinner for Hu JintaoObama’s State Dinner for Hu JintaoObama’s State Dinner for Manmohan SinghObama’s State Dinner for Manmohan SinghObama’s State Dinner for Xi JinpingObama’s State Dinner for Xi JinpingOda Nobunaga’s Banquet for Tokugawa IeyasuOda Nobunaga’s Banquet for Tokugawa IeyasuOhalo II Lakeshore CampOhalo II Lakeshore CampOld Kingdom Nile Failure and Subsistence CrisisOld Kingdom Nile Failure and Subsistence CrisisOlmec San LorenzoOlmec San LorenzoOlmec San Lorenzo Elite FeastOlmec San Lorenzo Elite FeastOlympia’s Festival FeastsOlympia’s Festival FeastsOlympia’s Hecatomb FeastOlympia’s Hecatomb FeastOmo I by the Ancient OmoOmo I by the Ancient OmoOnline Grocery Ordering Enters the HomeOnline Grocery Ordering Enters the HomeOrissa FamineOrissa FamineOstia’s Port PopulationOstia’s Port PopulationOttoman Anatolian FamineOttoman Anatolian FamineOttoman Banquet for a European EmbassyOttoman Banquet for a European EmbassyÖtzi the Iceman’s Alpine WorldÖtzi the Iceman’s Alpine WorldOyster Farming Industrializes in FranceOyster Farming Industrializes in FrancePaisley Caves ForagersPaisley Caves ForagersPale Ale Brewing Expands at Burton-on-TrentPale Ale Brewing Expands at Burton-on-TrentPalmyra’s Caravan CuisinePalmyra’s Caravan CuisinePanama Disease Ends the Gros Michel Banana EraPanama Disease Ends the Gros Michel Banana EraParis Peace Conference State DinnerParis Peace Conference State DinnerPasteur Patents Wine PreservationPasteur Patents Wine PreservationPataliputra under the MauryasPataliputra under the MauryasPeanuts Cross the Atlantic to AfricaPeanuts Cross the Atlantic to AfricaPeanuts Enter South and East AsiaPeanuts Enter South and East AsiaPeiligang Millet FarmersPeiligang Millet FarmersPeking Man at ZhoukoudianPeking Man at ZhoukoudianPersepolis Banquet EconomyPersepolis Banquet EconomyPersian Famine of 1870–1872Persian Famine of 1870–1872Persian Qanats Carry Water UndergroundPersian Qanats Carry Water UndergroundPET Bottles Globalize Single-Serve BeveragesPET Bottles Globalize Single-Serve BeveragesPetra’s Desert Water EconomyPetra’s Desert Water EconomyPhaistos Court FeastPhaistos Court FeastPhylloxera Devastates European VineyardsPhylloxera Devastates European VineyardsPigs Are Domesticated in AnatoliaPigs Are Domesticated in AnatoliaPinnacle Point Coastal ForagersPinnacle Point Coastal ForagersPlastic Cling Film Enters Household KitchensPlastic Cling Film Enters Household KitchensPlatform Meal Delivery GlobalizesPlatform Meal Delivery GlobalizesPlymouth’s New Food LandscapePlymouth’s New Food LandscapePompeii on Its Final DayPompeii on Its Final DayPorcelain Tableware Transforms Elite DiningPorcelain Tableware Transforms Elite DiningPortuguese Estado da Índia Viceroy’s Feast at GoaPortuguese Estado da Índia Viceroy’s Feast at GoaPortuguese Missionaries Introduce Tempura and CastellaPortuguese Missionaries Introduce Tempura and CastellaPortuguese Seize the Indian Ocean Spice RoutesPortuguese Seize the Indian Ocean Spice RoutesPostwar London and RationingPostwar London and Rationing