Mummies Bring Evidence to Mongolian Empire Elites' Milk Consumption from Yaks from 5,000 Years Ago

Mummies bring information about our past, and it helps the present dwellers of the planet learn more about their heritage and early beginnings, with the recent discovery of an ancient elite Mongol-era cemetery. While mummies are already bringing significant clues to identity, it also centers on delivering new information about the Mongolian empire's elites, with their fond consumption of Yak milk.

Yaks are important in Mongolian culture, but it has been unknown for a long time when people decided to use the cattle's milk for consumption and other purposes, unlike cows, horses, goats, and more.

Mummies Date Mongolian Empire Elite's Yak Milk Consumption

A recent release has revealed a study behind members of the Mongolian Empire's elite who consumed yak milk for more than 5,000 years, the first time that it was clear as when early humans consumed it from this specific cattle.

The discovery was made by analyzing ancient dental calculus, or tartar found on the teeth of mummies from an elite Mongol-era cemetery in northern Mongolia.

The study came from researchers from a group of international academics who published it under Nature's publication, who studied the permafrosted mummies' dental remains.

Its study also saw traces of blood and milk proteins from several ruminants from the dental calculus.

Yak Milk's Consumption More than 5,000 Years Ago

"Our most important finding was an elite woman buried with a birchbark hat called a bogtog and silk robes depicting a golden five-clawed dragon. Our proteomic analyses concluded that she drank yak milk during her lifetime," said Alicia Ventresca-Miller, a University of Michigan assistant professor of anthropology.

"This helped us verify the long-term use of this iconic animal in the region and its ties to elite rulers."

The study also revealed that the area where the remains were found was also a concentrated breeding region for the yaks.

Milk and its Importance in the World

While many people are lactose intolerant, a majority of the world's population is fond of milk consumption or adding it to their favorite meals or drinks to uplift its flavor with a creamy or bolder taste. Cow milk is one of the most popular and used dairy products from cattle, with its byproduct, cheese, has been developed more than 7,200 years ago.

And if it applies to you, it is important to note that consuming high-saturated dairy products may help reduce the risks of dying from stroke by as much as 42 percent. A recent study has discovered this when looking at what milk can bring humans, apart from the many vitamins and minerals that come along with it.

The discovery of traces of yak milk in the dental calculus of mummies from the Mongolian Empire's elite provides new insight into the diet and lifestyle of one of history's most successful empires. The consumption of yak milk was likely an important part of the Mongolian elite's diet and may have played a role in their conquests and empire-building.