Archaeologists discover 400-year-old shopping list

Archaeologists just discovered a really old shopping list under floorboards.
(Image credit: iStock)

Long before FreshDirect and Amazon Fresh, hungry people around the world scratched down their shopping lists on pieces of paper. One such list, dating from 1633, has just been discovered beneath the attic floorboards of a wealthy country residence in Kent, England, Smithsonian reports.

The home's attic used to be filled with trunks and the researchers believe that the grocery list accidentally slipped under the floorboards at some time, where it remained hidden until its recent discovery. "It's extremely rare to uncover letters dating back to the 17th century, let alone those that give us an insight into the management of the households of the wealthy, and the movement of items from one place to another," said regional archaeologist Nathalie Cohen.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.