The San Tan Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society is inviting the public to join them for a special presentation: "Imagine you are invited to a dinner which turns out to consist of absolutely rotten meat, crawling with maggots," by John D. Speth, an Arthur F. Thurnau professor (emeritus) of anthropology in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Michigan.
Community members are invited for the free presentation, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at the San Tan Historical Society Museum, located in Queen Creek at 20425 S. Old Ellsworth Road.
"Imagine you are invited to a dinner which turns out to consist of absolutely rotten meat, crawling with maggots. Already a hundred yards before you reach the dining place you are overwhelmed by the horrific stench. You are disgusted, your hold your nose and your face becomes distorted, and you turn your head away from the offensive odor. You can barely stand the smell, and just the thought makes your stomach start to churn. The moment you enter, you see the disgusting seething mess, turn instantly, and flee as fast as you can, hoping not to wretch on your way out," begins Speth's presentation.
"Before you jump to the wrong conclusion, eating totally rotten meat, often raw and maggoty, and considering it delightfully smelling and absolutely delicious, was nearly universal everywhere except in Europe and in the major Westernized colonial centers like Cairo, Cape Town, Delhi, and so forth. In fact, rotten meat and fish remained sought after foods in many parts of the world right up to World War I and even beyond, when Westernization more or less eliminated the practice as 'primitive' and unsanitary. More striking yet, over the last 3,000 years or so, the aversion to rotten meat is found largely within the Judeo–Christian tradition. What then about all that modern science that tells us we will die of botulism if we eat rotten meat?" This gives a peek into Speth's presentation.
Contact Marie Britton, at [email protected], for more information.
