We invite our passengers to embark on a 12,000-year-old culinary journey: We are now serving bread made with wheat grown in Anatolia — the origin of humanity’s oldest bread.
From Taş Tepeler to today…
The world’s oldest bread in the skies with Turkish Airlines!
Around 12,000 years ago, at the dawn of human civilization, the first seeds of agriculture were sown in what is now known as the Fertile Crescent. In the plains nestled between the fertile slopes and valleys of Taş Tepeler, which stand as silent witnesses to history, early human communities began to uncover the secrets of the land.
As the Last Ice Age ended 11,700 years ago, the climate in this region improved, giving rise to resource-rich and fertile environments. The people who initially lived as hunter-gatherers in these lands began collecting wild wheat, barley, lentils, and peas to meet their growing food needs. This discovery marked the beginning of a shift from a nomadic lifestyle, constantly on the move in search of food, to one tied to the land.
From Anatolia to the world…
Initially, these grains and legumes were gathered and consumed in their natural state, but new methods of processing and consumption were needed. The pioneers of early agriculture developed primitive tools such as mortars, grinding stones, and hand stones, which allowed them to grind and crush grains into a consumable form through trial and error. These tools marked the first steps towards a more settled way of life.
Over time, these early farmers began experimenting with planting seeds, observing the growth cycles of these plants, and refining their techniques. Wheat, barley, and other wild ancestors of today’s staple foods were selected and gradually domesticated. This lengthy and complex process was not just a technological advancement; it marked the birth of agriculture.
Journey of the bread
The heart of this agricultural revolution was the Taş Tepeler. This region, where monumental sites like Karahan Tepe and Göbeklitepe emerged, tells the story of humanity’s first steps towards a settled lifestyle. The domestication of wheat in this area was a transformative event that led to profound changes in social structures, dietary habits, and societal order.
Archaeological findings from key sites such as Karahan Tepe and Göbeklitepe reveal that the region’s inhabitants transitioned from gathering wild seeds to planting them. This shift was not just a technological innovation but also a significant societal revolution. These early agricultural communities laid the groundwork for complex social, economic, and political systems, establishing the foundations for future civilizations.
Bread made from domesticated wheat became a fundamental part of daily life among human societies in Taş Tepeler around 12,000 years ago. Over time, bread evolved beyond just a food source for Anatolian civilizations, playing a significant role in daily life and social rituals. Thus, the 12,000-year agricultural history of Anatolia, shaped around wheat and bread, represents a period of profound transformation in human history. The mutual relationship between agriculture and civilization in Anatolia not only facilitated the emergence of early complex societies but also significantly shaped the cultural and economic landscape, leaving a lasting legacy in the development of human civilizations.
As the transformation of wheat into bread continues as one of the most significant innovations of the past 12,000 years, we are embarking on a new journey with the world’s first bread.
We view the responsibility of bringing humanity’s shared heritage—from these lands that are a meeting point of the world and spread across seven continents—to the globe as a significant duty for Turkish Airlines. By serving the world’s first bread, made from wheat grown in Anatolia’s fertile lands, in the sky, we offer our passengers a culinary journey that extends back 12,000 years.
In this journey, where we have taken our sponsorship of the Taş Tepeler excavation site a step further, we take pride in bringing the world’s first bread to the skies.