How Romans Made Their BISCUITS

The world’s oldest biscuit factory may have been discovered in southern France.

Scientists now believe an enormous Roman Barbegal factory was used to mass-produce snacks to feed second century sailors during long voyages at sea.

The enormous watermill featured a large complex of 16 wooden wheels fed by 38 miles (60km) of winding aqueducts.

As water cascaded down the wheels, it turned a gear system that crushed grains into flour, which was then shipped to nearby Roman ports.

Previously, researchers thought large-scale watermills – like Barbegal – were only used on an industrial scale several centuries later during medieval times.

The Barbegal factory was a large complex of 16 water wheels stacked almost vertically in southern France. Water fed into it from an aqueduct at the top of the site, flowing through each wheel, which was attached to a gear system that ground grain into flour (artist’s impression)

The Roman mill, first discovered in 1937, is believed to be one of the world’s oldest industrial complexes, producing enough flour to feed 12,500 individuals each year. SPQR: A History of Anc... Mary Beard Best Price: $5.99 Buy New $11.09 (as of 07:15 UTC - Details)

Until now, researchers had assumed the site was only used to supply flour to the nearby Roman city of Arelate.

However, new analysis of ancient limestone deposits found at the complex revealed its wooden wheels stopped turning in late summer and autumn.

This suggests the factory did not supply Arelate – as the city would have needed flour throughout the year, and instead was likely used to supply shipping crews.

Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, analysed limestone found at the site shortly after its discovery.

The deposits had built up on the wheels as they churned through the water, and are all that is left of the ancient wooden mechanism, which rotted away centuries ago.

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