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Conquest of Bread

• Message 1.��

  Posted by Bebakunin (U2999013) on Tuesday, 7th February 2006

  In the ‘bar’ (‘Partaking of Laith’ thread) the idea has been mooted for a thread concerning food/agriculture/farming. As a way of introduction I thought I might take the liberty to outline why I personally feel this is a significant topic. To illustrate the key to understanding the importance of ‘agriculture’ I feel Julian Thomas summarises this well, when he comments:
  
  “The provision of food, and equally of other goods, is always a process which takes place in the context of a set of social relationships. While it can be argued that people always have to eat, this is very much a minimum consideration with respect to the form and character of…economic life. To attempt to explain an agricultural system, or a set of exchange transactions, in abstraction from the particular social rationale which defined the objectives of production and circulation is consequently likely to be a fruitless task. Economic production is a form of engagement with the material world, which involves the investment of effort, but which also invokes the classification and categorisation of materials, living things and people. Hence what is made and what is consumed by whom is socially defined and cannot be measured purely in terms of matter and energy” (Thomas, 2004, ‘Understanding the Neolithic’ p.11-2)
  
  I feel this is relevant in all societies. A further important issue is the incontrovertible fact that discussions concerning agriculture must be couched in terms of how inhabitants perceive the landscape (for above, all agriculture is a transforming force). Finally, food requires production even in the simplest regimes energy is expended in the need to satisfy hunger. However, production of this sort is (obviously) not the only form of production. Therefore, in discussing food production, in an (pre)historical situation with a material culture, needs to consider how agricultural production is prioritised given this choice.
  
  To summarise, in gaining an insight into the procurement/production of food sheds light of three specific relationships that individuals, families and communities create: a) self and others b) self and environment c) self and objects. In understanding all three we gain more insight into the lived reality of our ancestors.
  
  It could be argued that the ‘Neolithic Revolution’ and controversy over how, when and by what means it occurred are indicative of the food issue. In building a picture of this moment it may be as well to gain an understanding of how the food question was addressed from the Mesolithic onwards. Any thoughts or comments on what the main characteristics of Mesolithic production of food may have been?
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Goldfinches (U2947535) on Tuesday, 7th February 2006

  
  Am having another look at Reay Tannahill - found a copy hidden away - so will comment soon.
  
  Also in trotting around I have discovered that there is an annual symposium on food history in Oxford.
  
  Includes this, which might go on to become a favourite conference of mine:
  "The Oxford Symposium will meet in Oxford on 2 & 3 September 2006 to discuss Eggs."
  
  
  
  
  
  '.. prime objective is to foster and encourage exploration of food history as a serious topic of research.'
  
  '.. key activity is an annual conference on food history. This event - the Oxford Symposium on Food & Cookery - brings together writers, historians, sociologists, anthropologists, scientists, chefs and others who specialise in the study of food in history, its place in contemporary societies, and related scientific developments.'

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  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Goldfinches (U2947535) on Tuesday, 7th February 2006

  
  Am having another look at Reay Tannahill - found a copy hidden away - so will comment soon.
  
  Also in trotting around I have discovered that there is an annual symposium on food history in Oxford.
  
  Includes this, which might go on to become a favourite conference of mine:
  "The Oxford Symposium will meet in Oxford on 2 & 3 September 2006 to discuss Eggs."
  
  
  
  
  
  '.. prime objective is to foster and encourage exploration of food history as a serious topic of research.'
  
  '.. key activity is an annual conference on food history. This event - the Oxford Symposium on Food & Cookery - brings together writers, historians, sociologists, anthropologists, scientists, chefs and others who specialise in the study of food in history, its place in contemporary societies, and related scientific developments.'
  
  
  Also found:
  Where Teay Tannahill gets rather over cooked! But it's a good read!

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Bebakunin (U2999013) on Tuesday, 7th February 2006

  Can I take it the chair in Oxford will be Edwina Currie?

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Goldfinches (U2947535) on Tuesday, 7th February 2006

  
  
  Good old Eggwina - now I must get back to the matter in hand!

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Bebakunin (U2999013) on Wednesday, 8th February 2006

  In the absence of a specific text on food/agriculture/farming (FAF) I’ve been scanning Mithen’s contribution in Hunter & Ralston’s ‘The Archaeology of Britain’, as well as snippets from other sources.
  
  For me, several themes, emerge that seem to have relevance to analysing the Mesolithic experience of FAF.
  
  The climatic regime
  The transhumance lifestyle
  The potential plurality of ‘hunter-gatherer’ societies and ‘kaleidoscope’ of regional environmental variations (Cunliffe, I think)
  
  Within this there is the necessity, IMHO, to understand how food was produced, acquired and consumed. As well as the collating of knowledge on diet. Could anyone add to this list of concerns, or elaborate on any of the points?
  

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Goldfinches (U2947535) on Wednesday, 8th February 2006

  
  
  On a re-reading of my Tannahil (which is not the most recent publication so comments on the current edition welcome) a note on consumption of food - the waterproof container or any form of.
  
  Whether this be natural forms or manipulated through the introduction of pottery/ceramics - and other later materials - it seems that 'tools' of the trade will be vital elements of the dicusssion.
  
  
  
  In another note Tannahil refers to the potential that 'the primary Meolithic interest in grain was a source for beer rather than food..' Priorities?

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• Message 8

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  Posted by Bebakunin (U2999013) on Wednesday, 8th February 2006

  Hi,
  
  Agreed – Tools of the trade (as it were) and storage facilities are key issues.
  
  I’ve come across the importance of beer in a couple of references, I think more related to Neolithic. I like the speculation that such Neolithic production could have been associated with the ritual landscape and feasting therein. Maybe the Mesolithic were more the ‘stop at home with the family type’ than the party-going Neolithic folk. With both prioritising beer in their own context...
  

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• Message 9

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  Posted by Bebakunin (U2999013) on Friday, 3rd March 2006

  In my limited understanding I take the Mesolithic period in Britain as being characterised by a hunter-gatherer existence. Gradually, throughout generations the cycle of wanderings of the herds would have been increasingly manipulated until we can realistically talk about animal husbandry. The importance of increasing manipulation would lead to clearing down woodlands etc. to accommodate herds. Other forms of manipulation could have occurred simultaneously. For example, the environment could be manipulated to encourage the growth of wild edible plants.
  
  The mobile communities IMHO would probably be composed of consanguine family groups. This is relevant because it would imply that feeding would oscillate between (what we would refer to today as…) communal feasting and familial eating. This situation, given climatic considerations and low population figures, would be sustainable but I believe a variety of factors towards the end of the Mesolithic changed this moment in the ‘Longue Duree’.
  
  Any comments?
  

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• Message 10

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  Posted by Goldfinches (U2947535) on Saturday, 4th March 2006

  Hi,
  
  Agreed – Tools of the trade (as it were) and storage facilities are key issues.
  
  I’ve come across the importance of beer in a couple of references, I think more related to Neolithic. I like the speculation that such Neolithic production could have been associated with the ritual landscape and feasting therein. Maybe the Mesolithic were more the ‘stop at home with the family type’ than the party-going Neolithic folk. With both prioritising beer in their own context...
  ��
  
  Hello B,
  
  Ritualistic consumption of placenta is well documented through many early - and more recent cultures.
  
  Also the requirement for a menstruatinmg woman to eat, sleep and live in a menstrual hut.
  
  Many foods become untouchable - in early and continuing into some more recent cultures - for a mestruiating woman. The tradition that food prepared by a menstruating woman should not be eaten is also prevelant in many societies.
  
  I anticipate that the above evolved at a very early stage.
  
  G
  
  
  The question needs to be asked - do you see your self as a Mesolithic ‘stop at home with the family type’ or one of the party-going Neolithic folk?
  

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