"We have so much knowledge about the AE bread making that it is quite clear that the conical shape of the pots was not an important factor." Anthony
Sorry Anthony, I really don't understand this? It appears nonsensical to me. The shape of the molds is for a reason that we ( us guys on Ma'at ) don't know as yet. Just because we cannot find it on the web means nothing. The conical shape may be important for reasons already stated here such as heating more evenly, stacking, placing in the hot ash, etc etc. Read Lehner again. We have just begun in understanding the ways the AE made their bread. [
www.aeraweb.org]
"One way to create a link between discovery and theory in archaeology is to experiment. We wanted to replicate as closely as possible the activities of ancient people. This kind of experimentation can provide great insights into long-lost arts as well as a better understanding of elementary structures of everyday life.
The bakeries we found at Giza raised some specific questions:
Why were the bedja stack-heated prior to baking?
Did the bedja act like miniature ovens?
Was ash raked around the preheated pots?
What kind of bread was ultimately produced?"
......
"Experimental future
AERA patron, Dr. Nathan Myrhvold (physicist and master chef) is also interested in ancient breads and baking techniques. It is very clear from ancient depictions that the dough was poured into the bread molds. Nathan thinks that perhaps the dough was more like a biscuit or muffin batter than a spongy dough.
We are looking forward to more experimental archaeology in ancient culinary arts. We would like to recreate the bakeries again to better answer some of the questions that are so important to understanding the diet that sustained the builders of the pyramids, because it is on just such basics of everyday life that great civilizations—and pyramids—were built.
Like so many issues surrounding the Giza Pyramids, it is often the little details, like how the ancient bakers made bread and fed thousands of workers, that are most important in understanding pyramid building. These are often some of the most fascinating questions to us as archaeologists."
[
www.aeraweb.org]
I think you need to reconsider your statement:
"We have so much knowledge about the AE bread making that it is quite clear that the conical shape of the pots was not an important factor."
Greg
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/09/2007 04:53PM by Greg Reeder.