Oodles of Noodles: Oldest found in China - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cynthetiq · 10-13-2005, 05:55 AM

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Oldest noodles unearthed in China
The remains of the world's oldest noodles have been unearthed in China.

The 50cm-long, yellow strands were found in a pot that had probably been buried during a catastrophic flood.

Radiocarbon dating of the material taken from the Lajia archaeological site on the Yellow River indicates the food was about 4,000 years old.

Scientists tell the journal Nature that the noodles were made using grains from millet grass - unlike modern noodles, which are made with wheat flour.

The discovery goes a long way to settling the old argument over who first created the string-like food.

Professor Houyuan Lu said: "Prior to the discovery of noodles at Lajia, the earliest written record of noodles is traced to a book written during the East Han Dynasty sometime between AD 25 and 220, although it remained a subject of debate whether the Chinese, the Italians, or the Arabs invented it first.

"Our discovery indicates that noodles were first produced in China," the researcher from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, explained to BBC News.
The professor's team tells Nature that the ancient settlement at Lajia was hit by a sudden catastrophe.

Among the remains are skeletons thrown into various abnormal postures, suggesting the inhabitants may have been trying to flee the disaster that was enveloping them.

"Based on the geological and archaeological evidence, there was a catastrophic earthquake and immediately following the quake, the site was subject to flooding by the river," explained co-author Professor Kam-biu Liu, from Louisiana State University, US.

"Lajia is a very interesting site; in a way, it is the Pompeii of China."

It was in amongst the human wreckage that scientists found an upturned earthenware bowl filled with brownish-yellow, fine clay.

When they lifted the inverted container, the noodles were found sitting proud on the cone of sediment left behind.

"It was this unique combination of factors that created a vacuum or empty space between the top of the sediment cone and the bottom of this bowl that allowed the noodles to be preserved," Professor Kam-biu Liu said.

The noodles resemble the La-Mian noodle, the team says; a traditional Chinese noodle that is made by repeatedly pulling and stretching the dough by hand.

To identify the plants from which the noodles were made, the team looked at the shape and patterning of starch grains and so-called seed-husk phytoliths in the bowl.
These were compared with modern crops. The analysis pointed to the use of foxtail millet ( Setaria italica ) and broomcorn millet ( Panicum miliaceum )

"Our data demonstrate that noodles were probably initially made from species of domesticated grasses native to China. This is in sharp contrast to modern Chinese noodles or Italian pasta which are mostly made of wheat today," Professor Houyuan Lu said.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...re/4335160.stm

Published: 2005/10/12 17:29:06 GMT

There has always been the debate as to the origin of noodles. I'm of the camp that believes that Marco Polo brought noodles to Italy from the trade route with China.

Here is some definitive archeology that at least no longer has anecdotal evidence but actual real physical evidence.

Glory's Sun · 10-13-2005, 05:56 AM

makes me wonder how long it stays in the body..

BigBen · 10-13-2005, 07:12 AM

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These were compared with modern crops. The analysis pointed to the use of foxtail millet ( Setaria italica ) and broomcorn millet ( Panicum miliaceum )

I found this statement very interesting... We now spray for both of those plants, as we find them to be weeds.

You do not want to see pictures of a cow that has injested foxtail. The seeds get caught in the soft palate of the mouth, leading to severe and painful (and horribly disgusting) infection.

To think that what I consider weed seeds were milled and cooked to form tasty noodles makes me take pause.

Very cool, as are all of your posts Cynthetiq!

Cynthetiq · 10-13-2005, 07:16 AM

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Originally Posted by BigBen931

I found this statement very interesting... We now spray for both of those plants, as we find them to be weeds.

You do not want to see pictures of a cow that has injested foxtail. The seeds get caught in the soft palate of the mouth, leading to severe and painful (and horribly disgusting) infection.

To think that what I consider weed seeds were milled and cooked to form tasty noodles makes me take pause.

Very cool, as are all of your posts Cynthetiq!

thanks for the compliment.

I find it interesting that the Chinese society has found almost any thing that is edible can be turned into something palatable. From chicken feet to frog spit, bird's nest (bird spit) to century egg and preserved vegatables. Waste not want not I guess.

Pacifier · 10-15-2005, 06:21 AM

that is the proof we needed to show that Flying Spaghetti Monster created the earth. Take that ID followers

Psycho Dad · 10-15-2005, 06:25 AM

Anyone else in the mood for Ramen now?

shakran · 10-15-2005, 06:35 AM

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Originally Posted by Psycho Dad

Anyone else in the mood for Ramen now?

Dammit. You took my joke

10-15-2005, 06:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
Pacifier undead Location: Duisburg, Germany	that is the proof we needed to show that Flying Spaghetti Monster created the earth. Take that ID followers __________________ "It seems to me that the idea of a personal God is an anthropological concept which I cannot take seriously. I also cannot imagine some will or goal outside the human sphere. Science has been charged with undermining morality, but the charge is unjust. A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death — Albert Einstein

10-15-2005, 06:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
Psycho Dad Mulletproof Location: Some nucking fut house.	Anyone else in the mood for Ramen now? __________________ Don't always trust the opinions of experts.

10-13-2005, 05:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	makes me wonder how long it stays in the body..