The Norman conquest led to far-reaching and long-lasting political change in England, and new research suggests that it also led the English to eat more pork and chicken.
Before 1066, beef, lamb, mutton, and goat were among the meats most likely to be served in England, but a study of human and animal bones, as well as fat residues found in fragments of pots, he discovered that pork and possibly chicken became much more popular after the arrival of William the Conqueror.
Experts believe the Normans transmitted their love of pork to the local population, and pigs and chickens began to be far more intensively raised.
The study also suggests that there was a food shortage for a few years after the Norman invasion, but supplies were soon restored and life returned to normal.
Richard Madgwick, an osteoarchaeologist at Cardiff University’s School of History, Archeology and Religion, said 1066 was possibly the most famous and important date in the history of England.
“It looks like a great transition after which nothing was ever the same. For the elite, the nobility, everything changed radically: the administration of the country, the legal frameworks, the organization of the landscape. But at a lower level, people quickly adapted to the new normal. “
The research team used a variety of bioarchaeological techniques to study human and animal bones recovered from sites across Oxford, along with ceramic shards used for cooking.
They found that pork and chicken became a more popular choice for the pot at the expense of beef, lamb, and mutton. However, a few things did not change: cabbage remained a staple food.
Elizabeth Craig-Atkins, senior professor of human osteology at the University of Sheffield, said: “Examining archaeological evidence of the diet and health of ordinary people who lived during this time gives us a detailed picture of their experiences and lifestyles. everyday.
“There is certainly evidence that people experienced periods when food was scarce. But after this, an intensification in agriculture meant that people generally had a more stable food supply and a consistent diet. “
The researchers used a technique called stable bone isotope analysis to compare the diets of 36 men and women who lived among the 10and 13th centuries, the remains of which were found in various places around Oxford, including Oxford Castle.
They found that there was not a big difference between the health of the individuals, who were alive at different points before and after the conquest. Protein and carbohydrate consumption levels were similar in the group, and evidence of bone conditions related to poor diet, such as rickets and scurvy, was rare.
However, detailed analysis of the teeth showed evidence of short-term changes in health and diet during the transition phase after invasion.
Isotope analysis was also used on 60 animals found at the same sites to determine how they were bred. Pig bone studies found that their diets became more consistent and richer in animal protein after the conquest, suggesting that pig farming intensified under Norman rule. They probably lived in pig houses in the cities and received leftovers rather than being allowed to forage in the fields.
The ceramic fragments were examined using a technique called organic residue analysis. When food is cooked in ceramic pots, the fats are absorbed into the container. The 11th century cook sometimes roasted pork or chicken, but most of the time he just threw it in a pot and turned it into a stew.
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