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Traces of Medieval Jewish Diet Uncovered in England

Published Apr 08 2021 at 9:00 AM GMT
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  • BRISTOL, ENGLAND—According to a statement released by the University of Bristol, analysis of food remains recovered from the medieval Jewish quarter in historic Oxford suggests that the community followed dietary laws known as Kashruth.
  • Researchers from the University of Bristol and Oxford Archaeology uncovered traces of two private houses at St Aldates that belonged to two Jewish families, based upon medieval census records.
  • In a latrine at the site dating back to the eleventh century, the researchers recovered the bones of geese and other domestic fowl, and species of kosher fish, such as herring.
  • Biomolecular analysis of pottery recovered from the two homes found that the vessels may have only been used to cook meat from cattle, sheep, and goats.
  • No pig bones were recovered, and no traces of pork were found on the pottery, suggesting that the residents of the site followed a kosher diet.




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  • Published Apr 8, 2021 9:00 AM GMT