“Natural Refrigerator” Found in Eastern Turkey

ELAZIĞ PROVINCE, TURKEY—A farmer unearthed a food-storage jar dating to the late eighteenth century while plowing a field in eastern Turkey, Hurriyet Daily News reports. The 4.6-foot-tall container was made of red clay and its interior was plastered with concrete mortar. “It is a natural refrigerator produced under contemporary conditions to preserve food for people centuries ago,” said Baskil District Mayor İhsan Akmurat. The jar's clay exterior would have acted as a humidity control, enabling the container to keep food fresh. For more on historical means of refrigeration, go to "Ice Merchants."