Exploring Ancient Foodways – An archaeological journey into Roman dietary habits at Kinderuni Wien 2025
By: Dominik Hagmann and Nisa Kirchengast On Monday, July 7th, we had the delightful opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of Roman cuisine with a group of 50 young explorers at Kinderuni Wien. The session, titled „Römisches Essen: Alles bio und vegan? Mit der Archäologie der antiken Ernährung auf der Spur“ (Roman Food: All Organic and Vegan? Tracing Ancient Diet with Archaeology), brought together curious minds aged 7 to 12 eager to learn about what the Romans ate and how we uncover their culinary secrets. We ventured into the depths of Roman gastronomy, not only discussing the food the Romans ate but also uncovering how archaeology helps us reveal their meals, even after nearly two millennia. From archaeological finds to ancient cookbooks, we explored the rich flavors of the past and discussed how these dishes could be recreated today with a modern twist. Our research areas, especially zooarchaeology and experimental archaeology, were crucial in revealing the diet of the Romans. For instance, through zooarchaeological analysis, we explored animal bones to uncover the types of meat consumed by the Romans, and through experimental archaeology, we demonstrated how ancient food production techniques, like cooking the Roman puls, contributed to the Roman diet. The children’s enthusiasm was truly inspiring. They asked insightful questions, eager to learn everything from the Romans’ favorite foods…
