Turkey Recreates 5,000-Year-Old Bread Driving Ancient Wheat Revival

Archaeologists in central Turkey have unearthed a 5,000-year-old loaf of bread at the Kulluoba site near Eskisehir, making it the oldest baked bread discovered during an excavation. The bread, round and flat like a pancake and preserved due to being burnt and buried beneath a dwelling threshold from around 3300 BC, was made from coarsely ground emmer flour, lentil seeds, and an unknown plant leaf used as yeast. The discovery has inspired local bakers to recreate the ancient recipe using Kavilca wheat, an ancient variety similar to emmer, along with bulgur and lentils, resulting in a popular new bread that has quickly sold out. The Eskisehir municipality promotes the bread through the Halk Ekmek bakery, which produces 300 loaves daily, encouraging a return to drought-resistant ancient grains in response to the region's climate challenges. The find also suggests a ritual of abundance, as a piece of the bread was torn off before it was burnt and buried, reflecting cultural practices of the early Bronze Age. Mayor Ayse Unluce highlighted the significance of the discovery and the lessons from ancestors on sustainable agriculture amid climate crisis concerns.