News|Articles|September 2, 2026
Lentils: An Ancient Cultivated Food
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Key Takeaways
- Archaeobotanical findings from Bronze Age Switzerland support lentils as a long-established human food crop with deep agricultural antiquity.
- Near Eastern domestication is considered likely, and lentil seeds display notable phenotypic diversity, including white through dark brown varieties.
Fun Fact! Lentils (Lens culinaris) are among the oldest cultivated foods—dating to the Bronze Age—and are rich in protein, fiber, iron, and B vitamins.
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Fun Fact! Lentils (Lens culinaris) rank among the oldest cultivated foods, with remains found in Bronze Age lake dwellings in Switzerland. Likely domesticated in the Near East, this small legume comes in shades from white to dark brown, and across the Middle East, the parched seeds are prized as long-lasting food carried on journeys.
Nutritionally, lentils are a good source of protein, dietary fiber, B vitamins, iron, and phosphorus.
Source: Britannica Editors. lentil. Encyclopedia Britannica. August 18, 2026. Accessed September 2, 2026.
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