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Ok just stumbled on something, I know it is a grain but if you hit up some research about it and tell me... What do you think? Our Paleo ancestors would have eaten this am I correct? Too bad I don't live in Italy where it goes by the name Farro

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Wikipedia has a lot of good info on Emmer and Ekhorn, so you don't have to buy Wheat Belly (though the blog has good information). There are pastas available made from Emmer, specialty shops carry it, and some online stores. It is horrible for bread because it is so low in gluten, no chewy soft texture. – Jackie Sep 13 at 17:11
So if it is terrible for bread making, I hear that biblical characters ate this type of wheat. Is this why flat breads came to be popular in the region. Yes I know that they were not Paleo folk but would that be the reason pitas came to be? Long lasting and easy to preserve food? In your opinion would Emmer and Ekhorn be Paleo, or best avoided altogether and stick with Meats, and veggies in general. For some, fruits, dairy, nuts, etc. – fromthericefields Sep 14 at 5:17

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I can't scare up a link right now, but I watched a documentary called "The Ascent of Man" its from the 70s or 80s. In the section about agriculture they discuss wheat domestication. The short from is; man gather wheat for food; man learned to plant; wheat evolved to be more palatable; agriculture was born.

The big elephant in the room is that man ate grain before agriculture, and some communities still gather wild grains. It makes intuitive scene, why try and domesticate a plant you don't already eat? http://www.manoomin.com/Harvesting.html

The "what is paleo" question is a rather muddy one. A mix of "What did paleo man eat?"; "when was this plant domesticated?"; and "does this food have antinutrients?" It's further complicated by the fact that the Paleolithic era is over 2 million years long (2.6 Million Years Ago to 10 Thousand Years Ago).

Our paleo ancestors most defiantly ate Emmer, Ekhorn or a related progenitor species; and they are better for you than modern wheat. You may want to read Wheat Belly. It has a very detailed discussion of the differences between Emmer, Ekhorn and modern wheats and the bad effects on the body.

http://www.amazon.com/Wheat-Belly-Lose-Weight-Health/dp/1609611543

http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/

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 Yes that's what I found, so if I was able to get my hands on a wild strain of Emmer or Ekhorn Wheat, I should be able to eat it no problem at all. It appears they are like berries in non ground form. Of course due to the nutrient and the way our Paleo ancestors ate it wild, it would be eaten in small amounts from time to time? – fromthericefields Sep 13 at 14:15
I guess, unfortunately there is very little anthropological evidence for what Paleo humans actually ate. Or in what proportion they ate it. Most is based on conjecture and evidence of times of plant domestication and plant group evolution. – Dr. Mitchell J Morris PhD Sep 13 at 16:17
Now when we talk Paleo we mean at least 6000 years and earlier am I correct? Farming came into existence about 6000 years ago is what I heard, possibility the domestication of animals as well, or a bit further back than 6000 years?. – fromthericefields Sep 14 at 5:20
According to Wikipeda the Paleolithic area ended, and the Neolithic era began about 10k years ago. – Dr. Mitchell J Morris PhD Sep 14 at 12:11
I just found this link. They put the eating of Emmer an Enkorn before the advent of farming. foodtimeline.org There source is publish in National Symposium NEW CROPS: New Opportunities, New Technologies. Its a conference held by Perdue University. – Dr. Mitchell J Morris PhD Sep 14 at 19:15

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