Archaeologists have discovered a 5,000-year-old loaf of bread at the Küllüoba Mound in Eskişehir, Türkiye. Dating back to approximately 3000 B.C., this remarkable find represents one of the earliest known examples of baked bread.
The intact loaf, found within a residential structure, measures about 12 cm in diameter and weighs roughly 65 grams. Professor Murat Türkteki, the head of the Küllüoba excavation team, emphasized the uniqueness of this discovery. He noted that unlike previous dough finds, this bread was intentionally baked and deliberately placed within the structure.
Analysis indicates that the bread was made from coarsely ground emmer wheat and lentils. This provides valuable insights into the dietary habits of early Anatolian civilizations. The bread was baked at over 150°C and was partially burnt. It may have been placed near the entrance as part of a ritual or symbolic gesture.
The Metropolitan Municipality of Eskişehir has recreated "Küllüoba bread," making it available at local markets and displaying it alongside other artifacts at the ETI Archaeology Museum as part of the International Museum Week celebrations in May 2025.