Who invented milk?

Milk was not "invented"; it is a naturally occurring substance produced by mammals, including cows. The question should be: "Who first began using cow's milk for human consumption?"

The First Human Consumption of Cow's Milk

Based on evidence discovered by scientists, Neolithic farmers in Britain and Northern Europe may have been among the first to consume cow's milk. This was determined by analyzing degraded fats found on unearthed potshards dating back to the Neolithic period. This practice of using cow's milk for human consumption is believed to have begun sometime between 8000 BC and 63 BC.

What the Evidence Suggests

• Fat Residue Analysis: Scientists have analyzed residues of animal fats on ancient pottery. Finding these fats indicates that milk was being processed in those vessels.
• Neolithic Farmers: The discovery shows that these early agricultural communities in Britain and Northern Europe likely understood how to milk cows and then use the milk.
• Early Dairy Practices: This reveals some of the earliest evidence of deliberate dairy farming practices.

Important Considerations

It is important to understand that milking animals for human consumption was a gradual development and likely varied across different regions. The evidence from Britain and Northern Europe provides some of the earliest examples known so far, but similar practices probably also arose independently in other places at slightly later times.

Summary Table