Anthony Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > If the reason for the use of the conical
> > pots could be found, couldn't it potentially
> shed
> > a great deal of light on questions such as
> the
> > sorts of grain used
>
>
> We know this from other sources.
Yes ... (
http://www.ancientgrains.org/ ) ... I was just trying to briefly illustrate a point about the sort of information that can be derived from ancient artifacts of the sort that you mentioned.
> >And that in turn could perhaps
> have a
> > bearing on all sorts of other questions ...
> Ah, but thinking back on it, this is why I chose
> the pots. I apologize for my rushed answer
> earlier, but I was on my way out the door. The
> texts, offerings, and any number of other pieces
> of evidence that we have already document all
> these factors. We're not going to find out
> anything remarkably new by asking why the pots are
> conical.
Our level of understanding of the
> basics, such as diet, harvesting, and cooking is
> decades deep. Look at the honey we have from
> Tut's tomb, for example... or the samples of grain
> and such that have been recently rediscovered.
>
> If I had to hazard a guess, I would say the
> conical shape allowed heat to flow up past the
> sides of the pot in a way that baked the bread
> more thoroughly than would a flat-bottomed
> container. The clay would also probably be
> thicker at the bottom of the cone, thus making it
> bake more slowly at the spot closest to the fire.
>
> Unless somebody can show that the cone represented
> something significant to the ancient Egyptians,
> then we really are left with a "mystery" that is
> just not worthy of investigation.
I'm not sure that Delwen Samuel would altogether agree with you here!
Quote
There is still much to be learned about
ancient Egyptian bread. Many details nf
processing, as well as possible changes in
ingredients and technology over time,
remain poorly understood. Nevertheless.
enough work has been done to show that
one of the most valued and fundamental
items of diet, the loaf of bread, was a
sophisticated product that was skilfully
produced and satisfying to eat.
[
www.ancientgrains.org]
Hermione
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