Fragments of meals in eastern Denmark from the Viking Age to the Renaissance: New evidence from organic remains in latrines

A series of latrines from Denmark, spanning the periods Viking Age to Renaissance (800s-1680s AD), have been analysed for their contents of macroscopic plant remains, pollen, and animal bones. Here we present the results and discuss the findings in relation to ancient meals. The latrines cover a period of roughly 900 years, enabling us to trace the introduction of certain types of food and the disappearance of others over time. Some plant foods have been observed archaeologically for the first time in Denmark, including cucumber and rhubarb, while two other new plants from the assemblage, citrus and cloves, have previously been reported on. Our study shows how analyses of the different organic components in a latrine complement each other, leading to new information being gained on aspects of daily life such as diet, health and culinary practices.