Pompeii, the city destroyed by the volcano. Centuries after its disaster, it still has a lot to offer. Two new charred bodies were recently found. And now some kind of temporary food place with leftover food is discovered. The Pompeii Food Kiosk tells us a lot about its customs.
As if it was yesterday
This is a unique find as they could not previously identify the dishes being sold there. But the scientists found scraps of food that gave them plenty of clues.
«This kiosk is something special. We managed to restore the food sold there. In addition, the counter has beautifully preserved frescoes that also describe the products on offer, ”emphasized Massimo Osanna. He is the director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park. And he added that in the entire history of the excavations in the city, around 80 facilities of this type have been found. They are called thermopoles.
According to Osanna, the find makes it clear what preferences the ancient Romans had. For example, in Pompeii, chefs have added different types of meat to many dishes.
“You have to understand that these facilities were mostly visited by citizens. The rich were served complex dishes at home, “added the expert.
Zoologists working on the excavations have identified the carcasses of ducks, pig bones, sheep and goats. There are also birds and snail shells. Some of the ingredients had been cooked together more like a paella from Roman times.
Wine and hot drinks were served. There were traces of ground beans on the bottom of a wine container. It happens that in ancient times they were added to wine to give it taste and lighten its color.
The biomaterial is well preserved under a thick layer of lava. In addition to zoologists and archaeologists, volcanologists and biologists are working on the project. The Pompeii Food Kiosk could well have gone back in time … almost intact. Did someone say McDonalds?
