In a latrine of an ancient Roman fast food joint discovered on the Spanish island of Mallorca, researchers uncovered 165 bones of the song thrush (Turdus philomelos). The team believes these birds were a popular snack among patrons.
However, as archaeologists noted, thrushes are still occasionally consumed on Mallorca. “From personal experience, I can say they taste more like small game, such as quail, than chicken,” Alejandro Valenzuela, a researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies in Mallorca, told Live Science.
What Did the Scientists Discover?
In a study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, Valenzuela provided a detailed analysis of the animal bones found at the fast food establishment of ancient Pollentia.
This city was founded by the Romans after their conquest of the Balearic Islands in 123 B.C. Pollentia quickly developed into a bustling port with a forum, temples, a cemetery, and shops.
One of these shops likely operated as a popina—a small fast food venue where locals gathered to grab a bite and enjoy some wine. Notably, archaeologists found six large amphorae embedded in the counter of this establishment.
Nearby was a latrine that was four meters deep, filled with refuse, including broken pottery that helped date the fast food joint’s activity to between 10 and 30 A.D. The trash also contained numerous bones from mammals, fish, and birds.
However, Valenzuela and his colleagues were particularly intrigued by the role of small birds in the diet of ancient Mallorca’s inhabitants. The delicate bones of these birds typically do not preserve well over such a long period. Yet, in the studied latrine, there were more song thrush bones than remains of other birds.
According to Valenzuela, the trash primarily contained skulls and breast bones of the thrushes, but there were almost no bones from the limbs or the upper part of the sternum, which are associated with the meatier parts of the bird. This indicated that the birds were prepared by removing the breast. This method allowed the cook to quickly prepare a snack—either grilled or pan-fried—while keeping it juicy.
The archaeological team concluded that “thrushes were widely consumed, forming part of the everyday diet and urban food economy” of Pollentia.
Historical records indicate that Roman hunters often caught songbirds in large flocks using nets or pit traps and sold them in retail shops, where they were frequently cooked and sold as fast food.
The fragments of pottery found in the latrine may suggest that thrushes were served on plates. However, given the small size of the birds and the street food format, it is quite possible they were also served on skewers or sticks. Both options are plausible, Valenzuela said.
The findings in the latrine of this ancient fast food establishment revealed that the Romans not only consumed thrushes but also domestic chickens (Gallus gallus) and European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
As Valenzuela noted, the approach to food in ancient Roman cities was dynamic, and “street food was a fundamental component of urban life.”