Food in Antiquity: A Survey of the Diet of Early Peoples

Rating:
Summary: Primarily Archaeological.
Review: I picked up this book thinking that it would be a nice survey-style introduction into the various foods and dishes of the ancient world--especially the Classical Mediterranean, given the mosaic on the cover. However, this reads far more like an archaeological treatise recording processes of animal and plant domestication since the Neolithic. With a plethora of taxonomic and anatomical information that's of little use to the non-specialist, the book nevertheless manages to intrigue on occasion, with some tidbits; especially fascinating are the chapters on insects as food and on beverages. Most of the work focuses on the classical and near-eastern civilizations, but occasional mention is made of the mesoamerican cultures as well. Worth reading, but by no means a comprehensive work on early diets.