Archaeologists have uncovered the diverse diet of prehistoric Europeans by analyzing cooking residues in ancient pottery shards. The study examined vessels from regions across Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, revealing that hunter-gatherer-fishers consumed far more than just fish. Wild grasses, legumes, berries, and tubers formed a significant part of their diet, with regional variations in preparation methods.

Analysis of pottery from the Don River basin showed evidence of wild legume seeds and grasses, while vessels from the Upper Volga and Dnieper-Dvina regions contained guelder rose berries and Amaranthaceae plants. The Baltic region's pottery revealed traces of freshwater fish combined with berries, sea beetroot, and various tubers. Interestingly, shards from Denmark showed dairy product traces, likely obtained through trade with farming communities.

To verify their findings, researchers conducted cooking experiments using replica pottery and ingredients like guelder rose berries and freshwater fish. They varied cooking conditions and analyzed the resulting residues. The experiments confirmed that ancient peoples deliberately combined specific foods into distinct preparations based on regional preferences. The study demonstrates that prehistoric hunter-gatherer-fishers actively processed and consumed a wide variety of plants, challenging previous assumptions about their dietary limitations.