2,600-year-old cheese was found in an ancient Egyptian tomb

Published on 09/20/2022 20:09

The area where Halloumi was discovered became an archaeological site in 2018, when Egyptian artifacts and tombs began to be found in the area – (Image source: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities / Reproduction)

the last An archaeological expedition at Saqqara, EgyptHe revealed that the Egyptians also guarded the gastronomic riches of the region. Blocks of cheese made by ancient inhabitants more than 2,600 years ago were discovered in clay pots in a cemetery there.

in discoveries On the tenth of September. Archaeologists have found, engraved on the outside of containers that held a delicacy, Egyptian Biblical words called Demotic spread between the 26th and 27th Dynasties of Egypt, between 664 and 404 B.C.

Today, lumps are called halloumi cheese, a delicacy made from goat and sheep’s milk and have a “stark” texture, as if bitten into the soles of a new sneaker.

However, the ancient Egyptians called this dish forbidden, and in the Coptic era it was called halloumi. Since then, this dish has gained prominence in the 16th century, when it became popular in the eastern Mediterranean.

According to researchers, this month around halloumi found the title of oldest cheese found by archaeologists, but lost the prize in 2018 for the discovery of a 3,200-year-old piece of dairy.

There are still dozens of vases discovered on the expedition to be opened and researchers have no idea if the interior of the clay objects was also occupied by lumps of cheese or other delicacies.

Saqr Archaeological Site

The area where Halloumi was discovered became an archaeological site in 2018, when Egyptian artifacts and tombs began to be found in the area. Since then, the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has promoted five archaeological seasons.

Seven rock tombs, figures and statues from ancient Egypt and the tomb of the Waheti priest have already been found. In the year 2020 alone, the archaeological team found more than 100 wooden sarcophagi along with 40 statues of the god Saqqara.