Early Europeans Were Lactose Intolerant For Much Longer Than Thought
- 10 years ago
Researchers have determined that throughout the first 4 thousand years of dairy farming, humans living in Europe remained lactose intolerant.
Over the millennia, the human genome has changed as lifestyles shifted and for means of survival.
One example is the transition from foraging for food to cultivating it. However, it’s been discovered that while physical adaptations occurred, they didn’t always happen quickly.
Researchers have determined that throughout the first 4 thousand years of dairy farming, humans living in Europe remained lactose intolerant.
The discovery came through an analysis of bones found during road construction in Central Europe’s Great Hungarian Plain.
Even though there were only 13 skeletons, scientists were able to glean an incredible amount of information from them.
Drinking animals’ milk would have likely resulted in very unpleasant consequences for the region's inhabitants.
So, why bother raising cattle and sheep?
It’s believed that they used the milk to make dairy products like cheese and yogurt.
The processes involved in producing the two breaks down much of the lactose, yet still provides a great deal of nutrition.
Over the millennia, the human genome has changed as lifestyles shifted and for means of survival.
One example is the transition from foraging for food to cultivating it. However, it’s been discovered that while physical adaptations occurred, they didn’t always happen quickly.
Researchers have determined that throughout the first 4 thousand years of dairy farming, humans living in Europe remained lactose intolerant.
The discovery came through an analysis of bones found during road construction in Central Europe’s Great Hungarian Plain.
Even though there were only 13 skeletons, scientists were able to glean an incredible amount of information from them.
Drinking animals’ milk would have likely resulted in very unpleasant consequences for the region's inhabitants.
So, why bother raising cattle and sheep?
It’s believed that they used the milk to make dairy products like cheese and yogurt.
The processes involved in producing the two breaks down much of the lactose, yet still provides a great deal of nutrition.