Bronze age is the period between 2200 and 800 BC that got its name from the alloy of tin and copper, used in making tools. Researchers managed to determine the diet of people who lived in Europe during this time by analysing remains.

It showed that groups living during this time had already traded between each other over long distances (such as Switzerland to Italy), as well as started to used manure to improve the yield of crops, obviously to meet the requirements of growing populations.

Men, women, children had been eating the same foods

One of the surprising discoveries of researchers was that kids and adults, as well as men and women, were eating the same food. Kids didn’t have some special diet, and men didn’t eat more meat or diary than women. Scientists were able to find out what people were eating by isotope analysis of bones they found at various archaeological sights.

Another surprise was to find out that people living in Western Switzerland that has a lake and several rivers didn’t consume much fish and other freshwater produce but lived on a diet of terrestrial animals and plants (cereals).

The development of metallurgy promoted growth in trade between distant tribes. To make metals people needed certain raw minerals. Together with trade of raw materials, prestigious goods and crafts were traded. The evidence shows that people were trading at the time not only within Europe but also with China. It was evident by introduction of millet as a cereal, which couldn’t be grown in the climate of Switzerland.

People of that location started to eat more millet by late Bronze Age (1300 to 800 BC). During the early Bronze Age (2200 to 1500 BC) mostly barley and wheat were consumed, which had been grown in Europe since Neolithic age. Millet is a plant from Asia.

The analysis of plant remains from that time showed the use of manure in agriculture. By late Bronze Age, there fertilization became a common practice to boost production of crops.

The introduction of new cereals could be critically important in securing the supply of food and population growth, as these types of plants grow faster and less sensitive to lack of water, in times of warm and dry climate. All these relatively minor improvements created the right social environment for the humankind to progress further and faster.

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