Research Indicates Ancient Romans Ate Fast Food Comparable to Today’s Tastes

We’re not the only culture that delights in fast food. A recent investigation published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology reveals that ancient Romans surprisingly indulged in a type of fast food, albeit different from today’s popular franchises like hamburgers or fried chicken. This revelation emerged from studies in the ancient Roman city of Pollentia, situated on the island of Mallorca in what is now Spain. Researcher Alejandro Valenzuela, affiliated with the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, examined animal remains found in a 13-foot-deep urban cesspit.

Pollentia, which evolved from a port to a commercial center, had a network of tabernae, or small stores and workshops, including popinae—taverns that offered food and drink similar to contemporary bars. One popina, partially identified by six amphorae embedded in its bar counter, was linked to an underground drainage system that directed waste into the cesspit.

This 13-foot-deep sewage receptacle contained urban artifacts, including ceramics—dating the pit as early as 10 BCE—alongside bones from mammals, fish, and birds. Among the avian remains, small thrush skeletal fragments were conspicuously the most prevalent, thereby becoming the focus of Valenzuela’s research.

Bird remains are seldom well-preserved at archaeological sites, complicating researchers’ efforts to ascertain the significance of birds in the diets of ancient Mallorcans. However, the unique makeup of the thrush remains began to clarify the situation. While numerous skulls and breastbones were retrieved, bones from the wings, legs, and upper chest—the meatier portions—were virtually non-existent.

Valenzuela deduced that thrushes were likely a fundamental component of the local diet and urban food culture based on this evidence. Supporting his conclusion are historical records that illustrate Roman game hunters capturing songbirds in considerable quantities, which were subsequently sold to food vendors.

The notion that Mallorcan offtake of small birds constituted proto-fast food arises from the methods used to prepare the birds. Valenzuela noted that the breasts of the thrushes were flattened to facilitate quick grilling or pan-frying in oil, keeping the meat succulent. Fragments of ceramics in the cesspit imply that thrushes may have been served on plates. Nevertheless, the street food hypothesis is bolstered by the birds’ diminutive size and the context, suggesting they might have been offered on skewers or sticks for convenient consumption.

This investigation not only enhances the comprehension of historical food consumption dynamics but also highlights an intriguing parallel between contemporary society and ancient Roman civilization, united by a mutual appreciation for flavorful street food on the move.