Scattered across the Eurasian steppe, archaeologists repeatedly come across metal cauldrons from the Bronze Age during excavations. However, it was previously unclear exactly what they were used for. Now, an international study led by researchers at the University of Basel and published in the journal Scientific Reports reveals their secret: Mongolian nomads collected blood from slaughtered animals—presumably for sausage production—in these cauldrons and may have also fermented milk in them, mainly from yaks.

The research team led by Dr. Shevan Wilkin from the University of Basel carried out extensive protein analyses on two metal cauldrons that were discovered in 2019 by herders in northern Mongolia, along with other artifacts. According to radiocarbon dating, the cauldrons date back to the late Bronze Age, i.e., they were in use around 2,700 years ago.

Animal blood in the diet has a long tradition

In the cauldrons, the researchers identified blood remains from ruminants, mainly sheep and goats. "Various historical accounts of the steppe dwellers claim that they regularly drank blood," explains Dr. Bryan Miller from the University of Michigan, U.S., co-author of the study. The new findings now provide a clearer idea of how blood may have been incorporated into the diet of the steppe dwellers.

The researchers suspect that blood was collected in the cauldrons during slaughtering to make blood sausages—a practice similar to contemporary culinary customs in Mongolia.