biostudies-literatureTaranto SI + D projectMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovacion I + D + iSapienza University of Rome26805https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11538533biostudies-literatureUnknown14(1)Recent studies suggest that in Upper Mesopotamia during the Late Neolithic period, specifically between 6400 and 5900 BCE, simple cereal flour doughs were baked in domed ovens using ceramic pans, commonly known as husking trays. Adopting an integrated approach that investigates various types of evidence, such as use-wear, phytoliths, and organic residues, we further refined and explored this hypothesis. Analysis of a sample of 13 sherds belonging to these trays from Mezraa Teleilat, Akarçay Tepe, and Tell Sabi Abyad provides evidence that a limited number of them could have been used to bake 'focaccia'-like products with ingredients such as lard or oil. This research project not only further strengthens the theory that husking trays could have been used for baking, but also provides insighScientific reportsUnveiling the culinary tradition of 'focaccia' in Late Neolithic Mesopotamia by way of the integration of use-wear, phytolith & organic-residue analyses.PMC11538533HARD 2016–7816-PPID2019- 106399 GB-I00Department of Science of Antiquities fundsHARD 2016-7816-PPID2019- 106399 GB-I00Lemorini CBarcons ABLe Miere MTaranto SGomez ABMolist MPortillo MfalseUnveiling the culinary tradition of 'focaccia' in Late Neolithic Mesopotamia by way of the integration of use-wear, phytolith & organic-residue analyses.Recent studies suggest that in Upper Mesopotamia during the Late Neolithic period, specifically between 6400 and 5900 BCE, simple cereal flour doughs were baked in domed ovens using ceramic pans, commonly known as husking trays. Adopting an integrated approach that investigates various types of evidence, such as use-wear, phytoliths, and organic residues, we further refined and explored this hypothesis. Analysis of a sample of 13 sherds belonging to these trays from Mezraa Teleilat, Akarçay Tepe, and Tell Sabi Abyad provides evidence that a limited number of them could have been used to bake 'focaccia'-like products with ingredients such as lard or oil. This research project not only further strengthens the theory that husking trays could have been used for baking, but also provides insigh2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Nov2026-07-16T13:22:10.393Z2025-04-04T18:54:33.696ZS-EPMC115385333950099010.1038/s41598-024-78019-9