About

Introduction:

Why do we eat what we eat? How has food shaped our cultures, civilization and our very existence?

Some foods, like spices, (salt, pepper), were once used as currency and were worth their weight in gold. So valuable were some food items to the Ancient Egyptian economy that pyramid workers (maybe others as well) were paid in bread and beer. In this blog I’ll explore these questions and many more related to the food and drink that we consume everyday.

Welcome to Ancient Foods:

Let my tell you a little about myself.

JLP in 1974 Morgan Roadster

My name is Joanna Linsley-Poe
I am a chef, artisan bread baker, ancient food historian, food archaeologist and anthropologist as well as a writer. Although that sounds like quite a mouthful, I guess it’s all about a love of history and food.

I’m a curious sort of person, the kind that wants to know where something ( like avocado’s or pomegranates) came from. I like to imagine just how that first piece of raw meat got dropped into the fire and what was the reaction when it was fished out? Was it tossed aside as being
no good or was it eaten and the notion spread everywhere and just how long did that take?

I hope you find this site informative. I would like to dedicate it to my husband Michael who encourages me to try new things and is always behind me in whatever I do, and to my stepfather “Wild Bill” who infused me with a love of food and history.

While I appreciate comments on my blog, I ask that you direct your views to the posts only Please no spam!

45 Comments »

45 Responses

on January 28, 2010 at 7:04 am | Reply Luigi

Just come across your great blog via a reference on Twitter from leisafarm. You may be interested in our Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog, which occasionally covers the same terrain, though from a somewhat different perspective. I’ve added you to our blogroll. Welcome to the blogosphere.
- on January 28, 2010 at 1:28 pm | Reply ancientfoods
  
  Thanks for the link, I like your site also and have added you to my blogroll.
  It’s nice to add similar but different perspectives -more human diversity is a good thing!
on January 28, 2010 at 7:05 am | Reply karen hampson

Dear Joanna,

I think this blog is fascinating! I’m going to add you to our LEISA’s Farm Blogroll. I have been planning a post on experiences with biochar so found the “black gold” post particularly interesting.

look forward to reading more from you!
Karen
- on January 28, 2010 at 1:33 pm | Reply ancientfoods
  
  Karen,
  Glad you found the post interesting. I come across such material from time to time but I am also doing research on ancient grains, which you might find of interest as well. Thanks for the link, I’ve added you to my blog roll as well.
  Joanna
on March 18, 2010 at 9:34 am | Reply Richard Jacob

I’m just now for the first time happening across your great site .. Joanna could I link this to our upcoming site? .. we are creating Ancient Grains Baking Company here in Santa Fe, New Mexico .. we are working to grow a variety of ancient grain crops here in the area and much more .. Richard
- on March 18, 2010 at 11:21 am | Reply ancientfoods
  
  Richard,
  I would be pleased to have you link to my blog-thank you.
on January 20, 2011 at 8:27 pm | Reply dedicated web hosting

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on January 29, 2011 at 9:27 am | Reply Lennot Pariisiin

Excellent information once again. Thanks:)
on February 24, 2011 at 12:10 am | Reply Torrie Mihok

I stumbled upon your blog and found it very informative. Awesome job once again. Keep up the good work.
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on September 13, 2011 at 4:39 am | Reply Birthday Quotes

I agree with your About Ancientfoods, fantastic post.
on October 3, 2011 at 4:36 pm | Reply Chris

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on October 5, 2011 at 2:30 pm | Reply Kit Pellon

Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your blog? My blog is in the very same area of interest as yours and my users would truly benefit from some of the information you present here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Thanks!
- on October 6, 2011 at 1:37 pm | Reply ancientfoods
  
  as long as you give credit where it is due I don’t mind. Some of my blog is original material but much is derived from other sources. It’s important to give credit to both.
on October 5, 2011 at 3:51 pm | Reply Shad Reese

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on November 4, 2011 at 8:04 am | Reply building a rabbit hutch

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on November 13, 2011 at 4:18 pm | Reply Chris Marinan

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on December 6, 2011 at 10:27 pm | Reply social media management

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on February 19, 2012 at 7:55 am | Reply Sally W. Donatello

Thanks so much for visiting my site and becoming a Follower. It’s grand fun to discover others with passions. I’m taking a food writing course at my alma mater and have written one post on The Art of Food. I’ve signed up to Follow your journey. Thanks again, Sally
on March 7, 2012 at 1:40 pm | Reply Chris

I just want to say…that finding your blog is a dream come true for me. Ancient food specialist? I love it! It is beyond awesome.
- on March 7, 2012 at 2:08 pm | Reply ancientfoods
  
  Thank you, I hope you find the information useful
on April 23, 2012 at 4:05 pm | Reply Debbie@kindnesskronicles

Thank you for reblogging my post! I look forward to reading your blog regularly – yours is a subject I find interesting, to say the least!
- on April 23, 2012 at 6:19 pm | Reply ancientfoods
  
  Thanks so much. I love the farmers markets in our area and will post more soon, more pictures tomorrow.
on May 8, 2012 at 2:14 pm | Reply Valerie Schreiner (@valschrein)

Hi Joanna! It was nice to talk to you Saturday. You have such a great comprehensive and informative blog. Mine, at this point, is much more subjective and posts can be few and far between. Perhaps that will change and it will be a jump off point for more scholarly bits later. But, I do focus on Anglo-related (and Sherlockian) posts so it may be an interesting read sometimes. I could be missing it, but there doesn’t seem to be a way to connect wordpress and blogspot bloggers that I can find…here is the address: http://www.anglophiledelights.blogspot.com. Hope to see you again at the next event and hope you are enjoying series 2 of Sherlock…even if some good little bits have been cut from the US version.

Cheers!
- on May 8, 2012 at 5:20 pm | Reply ancientfoods
  
  Hope you enjoy ancient foods. I added your link for anyone interested in Holmes or anything British!
on May 13, 2012 at 2:17 am | Reply elirogosa

We are delighted to find to your informative site! The Heritage Grain Conservancy manages an on-farm seedbank with hundreds of almost-extinct ancient grains with a farm-bakery offering delicious sourdough breads, grain beverages and more. ‘Eat it to save it’ See: growseed.org to learn more.
- on May 13, 2012 at 11:18 am | Reply ancientfoods
  
  Thank you so much. I’m glad you like my site. I have a passion for ancient grains. I will put a link to your site on my blog. We need these ancient seeds and how they were grown and preserved to keep our future secure.
on June 3, 2012 at 11:24 am | Reply Anthropology Gallery

I love this site! So happy we crossed paths!
- on June 3, 2012 at 11:58 am | Reply ancientfoods
  
  Thanks, me too. I like your style.
on July 16, 2012 at 10:10 am | Reply Laura Grace Weldon

Glad to find your site, dearly wish a contact form had been included. I’m in the midst of a writing project and looking desperately for someone who can give me some expert advice on two topics (shared food preparation traditions as well as singing/chanting while gathering or preparing food). I’d dearly appreciate it if you’d get in touch with me.
on August 16, 2012 at 4:50 pm | Reply Amy

Love your site! Thank you for sharing so many wonderful information! I’ve nominated you the Inspiring Award. http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2012/08/15/something-else-happened-instead-2/
- on August 16, 2012 at 5:07 pm | Reply ancientfoods
  
  thank you so much for the nomination, i am very honored. I am glad you like my site.
on January 16, 2013 at 7:22 pm | Reply stefla

You have been awarded the Illuminating Blogger Award!
For more info on what is going on, go here: http://florenceandthehistorian.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/illuminating-blogger-award/
- Stefani
- on January 17, 2013 at 11:43 am | Reply ancientfoods
  
  Thank you so much for the award, I’m not feeling very good today so will meet the requirements tomorrow or Monday at the latest.
on April 3, 2013 at 12:28 pm | Reply Dennis Aubrey

I keep on forgetting how interesting this material is. Looks like I’d better subscribe!
on May 7, 2013 at 5:37 am | Reply ritaroberts

Hi Joanna. About the ” Barrel Cactus.” I just looked it up on Wikipedia and there is a lot of info there. Also lots of photo’s if you go through Google images and would you believe, I have one myself. There are many varieties of the flower colors
- on May 7, 2013 at 9:27 am | Reply Ancientfoods
  
  Thanks Rita,
  I looked them up as you said. Lots of great info and pictures.
  I remember them from my childhood in Arizona. Noe I can be on the lookout to get one for myself. I have a cactus my husband bought me about 10 years ago though it’s probably not a Barrel cactus. Time to get one.
  Thanks for the info I appreciate it.
  - on May 8, 2013 at 5:31 am ritaroberts
    
    You are most welcome Joanna.