An archaeologist considers what farming simulators reveal about humanity’s ancient and evolving relationship with agriculture. ✽ “I hate when I…
Why Do (Some) Humans Love Chili Peppers?An anthropologist traces the origins and world travels of one of his favorite kinds of plants. ✽ As someone who…
Looking Into the World of Frog GiggingHunting rituals have long been a focus of anthropological analysis. An ethnographer explores how hunting frogs for meat using gigs, or multipronged spears, is a beloved family tradition in some parts of the U.S. (Content warning: The images and text include graphic descriptions of hunting and butchering animals.)
Five Turning Points in the Evolution of WineAnthropologists have helped uncork the fascinating history of winemaking—from drunken primates to Stone Age seed domestication to intoxicating religious rites.
Cooking Debris in an Australian Cave Tells a Story of ResilienceAn archaeological project in Australia investigates 65,000 years of food scraps to understand Aboriginal peoples’ resilience amid changing plant life, sea levels, and climate.
Do Children Need Special Foods?An anthropologist slices through myths about “picky” eating and the biological necessity of kids’ foods, and reimagines ways to feed future generations.
Here’s How to Make Olive Oil Like an Ancient EgyptianAn archaeologist pieces together a recipe for olive oil crafted in ancient Egypt. It’s easy for you to try at home.
Slavery, Sustenance, and ResistanceIn this SAPIENS podcast episode, meet the archaeologists who are investigating how “slave cuisine” can be a new site of understanding Black survival and resistance.
How Filipino Sailors—and Coconuts—Helped Create Mexico’s National DrinkMost people see tequila and mezcal as quintessentially Mexican spirits—but recent research has uncovered their unlikely connection with the Philippines.
Five Ways Native American Communities Honor TurkeysSome Indigenous peoples in the U.S. Southwest have a long relationship with turkeys, which they use for their feathers, eggs, meat, and more.
