14 DAY TRIAL // In what might be the coolest archaeological news of the year, researchers are happy to announce the discovery of a centuries-old pretzel in Bavaria, one of Germany's federal states.
The baked treat, a photo of which is available below, is hailed as the absolute oldest pretzel ever found anywhere in the world. The bad news is that, although perfectly preserved, it is not edible.
Introducing the oldest pretzel in the world
Historical records indicate that we humans first discovered the deliciousness of pretzels sometime during the Early Middle Ages, which lasted from around the 5th century up until the 10th century.
It is believed that the first pretzels were made in the kitchens of monasteries scattered across Europe. Fast forward several hundred years and pretzels are now a surprisingly popular treat.
The 250-year-old pretzel argued to be the world's oldest was unearthed by researchers excavating a site in the city of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany. Its age was established using carbon dating techniques.
“This discovery is really extraordinary, because it depicts a snippet of everyday life,” said Regensburg Joachim Wolbergs, the current mayor of Regensburg, as cited by The Local.
Specialists who have had the chance to examine the pretzel say that the only reason it managed to survive for well over 2 centuries is that whoever made it forgot it in the oven for too long and burned it.
Being charred, the pretzel not only escaped the hungry mouths that were surely just waiting to devour it, but also kept its shape during the hundreds of years that it spent buried in the ground.
Other baked goods were found close to it
The team of archaeologists who discovered this 250-year-old pretzel claim to have also come across the charred remains of a bread roll and even a croissant. Sadly, these other baked goods are also unedible.
The discovery of the pretzel, the bread roll and the croissant in the same spot indicates that, 250 years ago, a baker in Bavaria probably tried to cook the perfect breakfast and failed miserably.
