Millennial breads preserved in bakery ruins from World War II!

It happened in Bahia, in Garimpo Prateado, in the city of Campo Formoso and they were preserved due to the chemical content, caused by the mixture of ashes from an old oven. The study team at the Laboratory of Archeology and Paleontology (LAP), of the Department of Education (DEDC) of Campus VII of the State University of Bahia (UNEB) in the city of Senhor do Bonfim. The archaeological site represents a little documented space during World War II, during the Getúlio Vargas government.

_{Illustration of World War II (Photo: Reproduction/Pixabay)}

According to UNEB, the site in question is related to the extraction of quartz crystal, a mineral of vital importance for communication technology. The enterprise, which operated during a period of conflict, trades all of its production with the United States, as Brazil was a supplier of strategic minerals to the allied nations during the war.

During archaeological research, the UNEB team discovered a region that served as a camp for mining workers. In this area, traces of bottles were found, mainly alcoholic beverages and medicines for colds and coughs, as well as abandoned household items.

Another section of the archaeological site consisted of the garimpo bakery, the only structure still in existence, now in a state of disrepair. During the excavations in this area, preserved bread was rescued, buried in the sediment mixed with ashes from the old oven.

According to the analysis of the UNEB professor and research coordinator, Cristiana Santana, due to the fact that the breads are charred, the team is convinced that they were deliberately discarded in the ashes of the bakery’s oven.

“Which resulted in the desiccation and consequent natural mummification of this archaeological remains”, explained the teacher.

According to observations by researcher Joyce Avelino, a member of the group, the archaeological remains found in the Garimpo Prateado region suggest that it was a comprehensive mining area, but without sophisticated infrastructure. The collection of quartz crystals was carried out without the aid of advanced machinery, using only rudimentary and improvised metal tools.

Featured photo: Bread so well preserved is a very rare find. Reproduction/Dissemination/UNEB