A goat’s tooth helped unlock the secret of ancient Greek feasts

It turned out that there was no single system. Some animals were probably kept close to homes and fields as part of everyday farming. Others may have been reared in larger herds, moved between seasonal pastures, or specially fattened for communal feasts.

The study was published in the journal *Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences*.

What was the mystery?

For almost a century, scholars have debated how sheep and goats were reared in Ancient Greece. According to one theory, the system was based on large herds that were seasonally moved from summer pastures to winter pastures. According to another view, the animals lived closer to homes and fields, grazed on local plots, fed on crop residues and formed part of a mixed farming system.

New research suggests that both sides may have been right. The example of Azoria shows that small local herds supplied households, whilst animals from larger, more specialised herds may have been used for communal feasts.

How animal teeth revealed the secret

The researchers used isotope analysis. This method allows scientists to determine, based on the chemical composition of bones and teeth, what an animal ate and whether it changed its grazing grounds across different seasons.

The study analysed 50 teeth from sheep and goats, as well as the lower jawbones of 40 of these animals. This is one of the first large datasets of its kind from a single ancient Greek settlement.

Teeth are particularly useful because they grow gradually and preserve a ‘record’ of the animal’s life. They reveal seasonal changes: whether a goat fed on local plants, whether it was moved to another location, or whether it was given specially grown fodder.

What we have learnt about ordinary houses

In Azoria, archaeologists found animal remains in both residential houses and public buildings where feasts were held. This made it possible to compare the sources of meat for everyday meals and for large communal feasts.

According to isotopic data, the animals eaten in homes were more consistent with the local economy. They probably lived near farms, grazed nearby and fed on seasonal plants. This model fits well with the idea of small herds linked to the family’s everyday life.

But what about the pyramids?

The picture was different for communal feasts. The animals whose remains were found at sites of communal feasts showed different isotopic signatures. Some of them probably moved between summer and winter pastures. Others may have received a more consistent supply of food all year round.

This suggests that large feasts may have relied not only on ordinary household farming, but on a more organised supply system. It is possible that the community had special herds which provided meat for communal feasts and religious sacrifices.

Why were feasts so important?

In Ancient Greece, a feast was not merely about food. It was about politics, religion and community life. People gathered, ate meat, discussed affairs, took part in rituals and reaffirmed their belonging to the community.

Therefore, the question of ‘where the animals for the feasts came from’ is actually a broader one. It helps us understand how early Greek city-states organised their resources, maintained public institutions and distributed meat amongst their citizens.

Researchers believe that large public feasts in Azoria may have been sustained by a more specialised system of herd management. This may have strengthened the political unity and stability of early urban communities.

Why this isn’t just a story about a goat

The phrase ‘goat’s tooth’ works well as a hook, but the research is actually much broader. The scientists examined dozens of teeth and bones, and cross-referenced chemical data with the archaeological context: exactly where the remains were found – in residential buildings or at sites of communal feasts.

This is precisely what makes the conclusion so compelling. It is not about a single chance find, but an attempt to reconstruct an entire system of ancient agriculture: who reared the animals, where they grazed, what they ate and how they ended up on the table.

Background

Azoria is an ancient settlement on Crete. It is particularly valuable to archaeologists because it provides an insight into the life of society at the dawn of the Greek city-states. Traces of communal meals have been found in public buildings, whilst the remains of everyday meals have been discovered in residential houses.

Scientists had previously recognised that food played a huge role in ancient Greek society. But a new analysis shows that behind these feasts lay not only culture, but also a complex economic system.

Source

Study: Flint Dibble et al., “The agropastoral debate in context: the relationship between the consumption and management of animals at Azoria on Crete”, Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2026.