German archaeologists discover the oldest pretzel ever

The preserved pretzel
(Image credit: Twitter/The Local Germany)

This may just be the most delicious archaeological discovery ever.

Archaeologists in the Bavarian city of Regensburg have found remains of a pretzel, as well as a roll and a croissant, that date to the 18th century. "This is definitely the oldest pretzel ever found," Silvia Codreanau-Windauer, of the Bavarian Bureau for the Conservation of Historic Monuments, told Germany's The Local.

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The archaeologists explained that the baked treats were only preserved for centuries because they had been burned when they were made. The researchers believe a baker discarded them because they were burned.

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"This discovery is really extraordinary, because it depicts a snippet of everyday life," Joachim Wolbergs, the mayor of Regensburg, told The Local. Regensburg will eventually be home to a museum of Bavarian history, The Local reports, but there's no word on whether the pretzel will be displayed in the collections.

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.