Nok Pottery Preserved Plant Diets

Chemical analysis of ancient West African pottery revealed organic residues from meals prepared by the Nok people as early as 3,500 years ago. Researchers examined 458 prehistoric vessels from 10 sites in central Nigeria and found diverse plant lipid profiles in more than one-third of them. The evidence indicates that Nok cooks processed leafy greens, cereals, pulses, and possibly yams, with the greens likely including African eggplant, okra, cowpea, jute mallow, and bombax.

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