Roasted rodents on menu for Stone Age man History: Voles were tiny treat for Skara Brae folk

It provides the missing link between The Flintstones and Mickey Mouse.

Because researchers have just discovered Stone Age people used to tuck into rodent roasts, as part of their daily fare on Orkney.

The findings by archaeologists in Scotland suggest miceandvoles weren’t considered mere pests in ancient European society, but were also a source of nutrition.

The results of their research came after examining burned vole bones which were roasted before they were eaten at Skara Brae in Orkney 5,000 years ago. The stone-built settlement consists of eight clustered houses and is older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids.

Remains discovered there are thought to be the earliest evidence of rodents being used as food by people living in Europe.

Most of the bones were concentrated in household waste which suggested they were put there by inhabitants from the centre of the settlement.

Dr Jerry Herman, senior curator of mammology at National Museums Scotland, said: “We studied rodent bone remains to see if we could find out about the relationship between the people who lived at Skara Brae and the rodents that were also there at the time, 5,000 years ago. Most of the remains were from voles, a kind of small rodent that is common in pastures used for grazing animals.

“Far more of them were in the refuse at the site itself, compared to locations nearby that were also excavated.

“Voles would not usually be found in human habitations, so it was clear something musthave led to their presence in such numbers.

“The remains were mixed with other human refuse, so they were likely to have been put there by the people who lived there, rather than birds of prey or other animals. Many of the remains were also burned, as if they had been roasted on a fire.

“This is the earliest evidence we have for rodents being used as food in the European continent.”

Skeletal remains of rodents are commonly found in archaeological assemblages from around the world.

Voles are small rodents similar to mice, but with a stout body and shorter hairier tail as well as smaller ears and eyes.