Yak milk consumption among Mongol Empire elites

For the first time, researchers have pinpointed a date when elite Mongol Empire people were drinking yak milk, according to a study co-led by a University of Michigan researcher. By analyzing proteins found within ancient dental calculus, an international team of researchers provides direct evidence for consumption of milk from multiple ruminants, including yak. In addition, they discovered milk and blood proteins associated with both horses and ruminants. The team's results are published in Communication Biology. Study: Permafrost preservation reveals proteomic evidence for yak milk consumption in the 13th century The study presents novel protein findings from an elite Mongol Era cemetery with exceptional preservation in the permafrost. This is the first example of yak milk recovered from an archaeological context. Previous research indicates that milk has been a critical resource in Mongolia for more than 5,000 years.