Ancient Roman Street Food: Fried Thrushes Found in Mallorca Ruins!
A remarkable archaeological discovery in the ruins of the Roman city of Pollentia, on the Spanish island of Mallorca, is reshaping what we thought we knew about Roman cuisine. Researchers have uncovered solid evidence showing that thrushes, small migratory songbirds, weren’t just a luxury for the Roman elite. In fact, they were commonly sold and eaten as street food by everyday people over 2,000 years ago.
Traditionally, historians believed that thrushes were served only at posh Roman banquets, based on texts like those from Pliny the Elder. But a new study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology tells a different story.
Photo Credit: Olaf Tausch / CC BY-SA 3.0
During excavations of a cesspit linked to a food shop (known as a taberna) in Pollentia’s bustling commercial district, archaeologists found a wealth of animal remains. Among the usual suspects, pigs, fish, and shellfish, they discovered something unexpected: bones from at least 165 song thrushes, making them the most abundant bird remains at the site.
This is where things get interesting. The remains weren’t found in a grand villa or feasting hall, but in a drainage system connected to a modest street-level food shop. This suggests the birds were being prepared and sold as quick bites for the local population, not just served in elite circles.
Even more telling was how the birds were prepared. The bones recovered were mostly breastbones and skulls, with very few of the meatier leg bones. That points to a preparation style designed to keep the most edible parts intact, likely by flattening the bird and frying it, a method still popular in Mediterranean kitchens today.
This seasonal snack seems to have taken advantage of the winter migration of thrushes to Mallorca, offering Roman street vendors a fresh and tasty addition to their menu. While the wealthy still enjoyed their thrushes year-round, often fattened on figs and dressed up in gourmet recipes, it turns out regular folk could also tuck into this delicacy, albeit in a simpler form.
Photo Credit: A. Valenzuela, International Journal of Osteoarchaeology (2025)
Interestingly, the site where the bones were found resembles Roman thermopolia (ancient fast-food joints), complete with amphorae built into the counter, similar to those in Pompeii. The setup strongly indicates that these birds were prepared and sold for immediate consumption, right on the street.
And Pollentia isn’t alone. Similar evidence has turned up in Pompeii and even in rural Roman Britain, painting a picture of a thriving Roman street food culture that spanned the empire.
This discovery not only challenges long-held beliefs about the Roman diet but also blurs the lines between rich and poor when it comes to food. The difference may not have been who could eat thrushes, but when and how they were eaten. The upper classes dined on them out of season in elaborate dishes, while the masses enjoyed them fried and fresh in winter.
In short, this research gives us a richer and more nuanced understanding of everyday life in ancient Rome, one where street food stalls served up tasty fried thrushes to hungry locals on the go.