Acorn, the Staple Food of the Neolithic Age

[Narration]
Acorns were found in Korea alongside Neolithic relics. Neolithic people ground acorns using a saddle quern and a milling stone and cooked them in clay vessels. Listen to this conversation, which could have taken place in the kitchen of a Neolithic household.

[Man]
Darling, I feel like eating acorn porridge today. I brought some acorns home a few days ago.

[Woman]
Sure. I’ve already prepared them by soaking them in water.

[Man]
Why do you have to soak them?

[Woman]
Don’t you know? Soaking removes the bitterness from the acorns.

[Man]
Ah, okay. But how can we possibly grind all of these?

[Woman]
We’ll use this. Put a handful of acorns on the milling stone and roll it back and forth until they are finely ground.

[Man]
Ok, I will. Will you use the acorn flour to make porridge?

[Woman]
Of course! While you grind them, I’ll get some water for the pot. When you’ve finished, could you light a fire as well? Then we can boil them right away.

[Man]
Of course I will. Ah, I’m so hungry. Let’s do it quickly!

[Narration]
Many tools were invented out of necessity and to make the daily chores of the Neolithic people more convenient.