Czech archaeologist studies ancient life through trash
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Archaeologist Daniel Pilař of the Czech Republic studies discarded items to understand how people lived 7,000 years ago during the Neolithic period.
Pilař believes that waste provides a truthful record of past societies because people do not consider how their trash might be interpreted later. By examining broken pottery, animal bones, and charred plant remains, scientists can reconstruct ancient diets, food processing methods, tools, and environments.
Pilař and his colleagues also research stone tools from sites in Uzbekistan and Turkey, focusing on those used to grind grains. They are investigating whether food preparation techniques originated in the Middle East and spread to Central Europe, particularly the practice of baking bread. Evidence suggests migration from the Middle East to Central Europe introduced early farming, though researchers are still determining if incoming communities maintained their original practices or adapted them to new environments.
Last week, Pilař received the Government Award for Gifted Students for his work, an honor he attributes to the collaborative efforts of his research teams. The award recognizes talented students who actively engage in scientific research and was presented to 45 nominated students in its fourth year.
