The paleobiology of prehistoric iran plant based diet, which has access to enormously variant and lush terrains, is a good indication of the early eating plans of the people. Being strategically situated as a hub at the crossings of several world prehistoric civilizations, the region provides useful information on its early inhabitants concentrating largely on plant-based foods. From archeological studies, seeds, plant remains and botanical residues traced in early human settlements show that humans in Iran adapted to a diet based largely on plants with intermittent hunting of animals. Drawing on the analyses of carbonized plant remains found in various parts of prehistoric Iran, this article looks into the plant resources that people of that period used, and how they selected them to meet their nutritional needs.
Prehistoric Iran: Agriculture That Built Civilization
Iran discovered early signs of farming approximately 10 millennia ago; archeological details of cultivated plants exist in the Middle East which comprises modern day Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. This region is believed to be one of the earliest parts of the world that experienced the growth of early agriculture that revolutionarized human lived-lihoods. These early human inhabitants of Iran were initially using wild plants but asIRQ with the improvement of the early farming technology the concept of domestication started.
Additional archeological studies in regions such as the Zayandeh River Valley, the Zagros’ slopes, and the Kermanshah Plateau have provided literate evidence on early plant use. The climatic conditions in the region also ranged from valley areas to desert areas, and this made prehistoric people to harness most of the plant resources. However, the cultivation of cereal crops like wheat and barley which were to form the staples of the Near Eastern agricultural revolution was well underway by the late Epipaleolithic period, 12,000-10000 BP Sauer 1998, pp. 423–424 Legumes like lentils and chickpeas were also cultivated. This change of diet makes it possible to speak about the agricultural evolution of prehistoric Iran as starting HERE.
Types of Plants Consumed
Iranian prehistoric diets were evidently varied, though it appears that the hunted animals and gathered plant-foods dominated sources of the local vegetation formed the basis of the prehistoric meals. The early human groups had rich sources of wild and cultivated plant foods like grains, legumes, fruits and nuts, vegetables etc.
Cereals: The evolution of wheat and barley to tools for plant cultivation completes the progressive development of early agriculture. These grains were part of the staple diet of prehistoric Iranian inhabitants. New light on food and cooking practices during the early Pottery Neolithic period comes from northeast Iraqi site Tell Abu Hureya; barley was the principal starchy supply and was cooked by boiling or baking and probably used as a beverage.
Legumes: Lentils, chickpeas, and peas were some of the popular types of legumes fixed in the Kenyan diet, suggests the cross-sectional survey. These plants have satisfied the human food needs by offering them proteins and nutrients which were important in early stages. Some of the common foods that people of prehistoric time used in their daily foods include; legumes because they are packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Fruits and Nuts: That is why in addition to wild and domestic animals, the prehistoric people consumed various foods like fruits; figs, grapes, and pomegranates, and nuts such as almonds and pistachios. In addition to sugars and vitamins, these fruits were also the components of preservation techniques including drying. These food sources were not always available and seasonal, however their importance in the diet could not be overemphasized.
Vegetables and Tubers: Meats, fish, chicken, tree crops, tubers and bulbs like the wild onions, garlic, wild carrots and other tuberous crops were eaten. These plants provided micronutrients and, in others, served as supplemental flavors to the diet .
Plant Foods in the Diet of Prehistoric Humans
Relating to prehistoric Iran, the role of plant-based foods is rather simple, plant-based foods are the basis for sustaining and developing prehistoric peoples, their health. Grains, legumes, fruits, and nuts were major food sources that offered prehistoric peoples adequate nutrition and energy at any given period to tide them over when one type of food was scarce the other was available in plenty.
With the cultivation of cereal crops such as wheat and barley people have assured supply of foods with carbohydrates that give energy. They brought good proportions of proteins so crucial for muscle and other body tissues formation and support. Meats provided protein, fish provided oils and grain goods offered carbohydrates, fruits and nuts contain vitamins and fats. Including a wide range of plant products to the prehistoric Iranians’ table allowed them to avoid shortages of different vitamins and minerals, which was important while living in such habitat.
Contact with Animal Derived Products
As much as it may not seem like prototypical hunter-gatherer terrain, current studies indicate that the early Iranians relied greatly on plant-based foods but consumed animal products as well. Meats, fish and related products were obtained through hunting, fishing and rearing of animals but they were complementary for they were in the second tier of the dietary pyramid hence a plant based diet. Earlier, Neanderthals possibly used animal meat, whether wild or domesticated animals like deer and wild boar and goats in later days.
In the case of paleo diets, the ratio of plant and animal foods would have depended with the geographical region, season or even culture at large. There is indication that plant-based foods, which were probably consumed in larger quantities in more fertile regions where agriculture was predominant, were consumed in smaller quantities than animal products in more arid regions.
The Importance of Plant-Based Diets to Cultural Evolution
Proteinaceous edible plant components dominated the prehistoric Iranian Paleo diet and are not only considered a necessity but a tool for cultural advancement. Transition from hunting –gathering system called for a more permanent place to live, setting up of a complex society and finally the start of urban civilization. This change in diet is associated with the writing, pot making and other primitive signs of civilization in the region.
Domestication of plants favoured cultivation of many plants and this made early societies invent ways for food storage and preservation. Considering that there was food abundance, there was employment of specialization whereby people concentrated in doing one or more jobs to increase production; thus trade circles developed and exchange of items including plant produce such as grains and fruits grew.
Conclusion
The concern is that the Neolithic Paleolithic plant consuming diet in the Greater Middle Eastern region, especially Iran, tells an important part of the history of evolution of human beings and agriculture. Planting and consumption has enabled early humans to gain their required nutrients that they need to survive besides, enabling them to live in different places. Prehistoric Iranians were able to develop future agricultural practices that helped set the stage for future civilizations in the area and to the story of humanity. Today such remains that have been found are evidence of the diet that people of the past consumed and the connection that humans had with nature.
