Spectrum History - Bread, porridge, beer

About 12,000 years ago, humans began to fundamentally change their way of life: they transitioned from hunters and gatherers to farmers and livestock breeders. With the cultivation of emmer, einkorn, and wheat, people started to consume more carbohydrates. This has been the archaeological consensus for decades. But is it true? Researchers in the relatively new field of "Food Archaeology" suggest a different development is more likely. Apparently, even foragers were eating a lot of grains. They prepared porridge and beer on a large scale and even baked bread. What the Paleolithic diet might have actually looked like and why people switched to agriculture is detailed by science journalist Andrew Curry starting on page 12. In this issue, we also launch our new three-part series "Children in World War II." The idea for this series was inspired by today's generation of elders who grew up during the tumult of World War II in Europe. Historian Maria Krell has researched their experiences and reports on page 42. This group was primarily young at that time: deserters from the Wehrmacht. Their desertion is now seen as a symbol of resistance against war and the Nazi regime. A new scholarly work questions this perspective. Our author Winfried Dolderer has tackled this important topic (starting on page 34). Wishing you an enlightening read, Karin Schlott, Editorial Team of Spektrum der Wissenschaft.