CAN NOODLES BE MADE FROM MILLET? AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF NOODLE MANUFACTURE TOGETHER WITH STARCH GRAIN ANALYSES

The earliest noodles have been dated to 4000 years ago, based on the discovery of remains at Lajia in north western China. The Lajia noodles were described as having been made by repeatedly stretching dough composed of millet flour with husks. In order to try to understand this manufacturing techniq...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archaeometry 2011-02, Vol.53 (1), p.194-204
Main Authors: GE, WEI, LIU, LI, CHEN, XINGCAN, JIN, ZHENGYAO
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis of archaeological features
ANCIENT STARCH
ARCHAEOLOGY
Asia
CHINA
Excavation and methods
Far East
GELATINIZED STARCH
Laboratory methods
LAJIA SITE
Methodology and general studies
MILLET
Neolithic and chalcolithic
NOODLES
Physical and chemical analysis
Prehistory and protohistory
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Summary:The earliest noodles have been dated to 4000 years ago, based on the discovery of remains at Lajia in north western China. The Lajia noodles were described as having been made by repeatedly stretching dough composed of millet flour with husks. In order to try to understand this manufacturing technique we carried out simulation experiments in noodle‐making and documented morphological changes in noodle starches caused by cooking. Our research demonstrates that it is impossible to stretch pure millet dough into noodles. We conclude that the husk phytoliths and starch‐like granules said to be from the Lajia noodle remains may actually not have been part of the noodles themselves.
ISSN:0003-813X
1475-4754
DOI:10.1111/j.1475-4754.2010.00539.x