Remnants of Oldest Known Cheese Found in Neolithic Pottery

The 7,000-year-old milk residue may mark the birth of the modern dairy industry.

By Breanna Draxler
Dec 11, 2013 5:17 PMNov 12, 2019 6:32 AM
oldcheese.jpg
These ancient pottery shards could represent the birth of the modern dairy industry. | Melanie Salque / Nature

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Move over, 15-year cheddar. Researchers believe they may have found a sample of cheese residue dating back some 7,000 years — the earliest known appearance of the preserved dairy product.

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