6000 years ago people where putting spices in their food. Considering that people 6000 years ago pretty much were like people are today minus the smart-phones I'm not that surprised although its very interesting to find out what kind of spices they used.
PLOS ONE reports that Garlic Mustard has been found in pottery 6000 years old in Denmark and northern Germany of today and since it has little nutritional value, they assume it was added to the food for taste, as if prehistoric chefs would have any idea about nutritional values, it's not like their food was USDA branded.
An alternate explanation except for the obvious that the people of northern Europe had a taste for Garlic Mustard would be that it was used for ceremonial or religious purposes. It is not unusual that food is connected with religion or deities. Apple, lamb, wine, cows, corn, bread etc...
Apparently the oldest find of the use of spices is from Israel where people 23 000 years ago enjoyed coriander in their food. Basically gourmet cooking can trace its roots back to Israel then. Sorry France, but 23 000 years head start is a pretty convincing argument.
