SHEEP MILK SOAP HISTORY -

The 11,000-year history of sheep domestication revealed by ancient DNA

https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/archaeology/ancient-dna-sheep-domestication/

February 1, 2025

Evrim Yazgin

Cosmos

A new genetic study has mapped out the 11,000-year history of the close relationship between humans and sheep.

The earliest sheep-herding practices were discovered Aşıklı Höyük in central Turkey, detailed in a 2014 study. It showed that these ancient people of the northwestern part of the “Fertile Crescent” had penned wild sheep in about 9000 to 8200 BCE.

Since then, humans have kept domesticated sheep across continents for their protein-rich milk, meat and wool which can be turned into warm, water-resistant fabrics.

The new study, published in the journal Science, revealed the analysis of ancient DNA from 118 bones which span 12,000 years and come from places as disparate as Mongolia and Ireland.

Among the bones are those found at Aşıklı Höyük.

The research showed that the earliest European sheep populations, about 8,000 years ago, were subject to deliberate selection by farmers for coat colour. The team found evidence that the main gene being selected for is known as “KIT” and is responsible for white coat colour.

Along with similar genetic evidence found in goats, this is the earliest sign of humans moulding the biology of other animals. It also suggests that the ancient herders were interested in beautiful and unusual traits in the creatures.

By about 8,000 years ago, domestic sheep genomes in Europe had diversified from the earliest domestic sheep, as had those in Iran and Central Asia.

But this separation didn’t last as sheep were moved from the east to the west around 7,000 years ago. This coincided with the spread of human cultural influences out of the early cities of Mesopotamia.

Another westward wave of domestic sheep followed about 5,000 years ago as farmers from the Eurasian steppes moved into Europe. These pastoralists included the first horse riders.

Historically, sheep milk used in soap dates back many centuries if not millennia. Shepherds combined the milk with lye and olive oil, then left the mixture to dry in the sun. This gave them a gentle moisturizing soap which was used by the families and friends.

In these times of mass produced soap and shower gels, sheep milk soaps are produced by artisans and hobbyists, particularly those who want to avoid harsh chemical ingredients used in mass production.

Sheep milk soap is rich in nutrients such as fatty acids, proteins, and minerals, which can help nourish and hydrate skin. It also contains lactic acid, a gentle and natural exfoliant that can help remove dead skin cells and reveal smoother, softer skin.

Sheep milk soap has many benefits for the skin, including:

Hydration: Sheep’smilk soap is rich in fat, which nourishes and moisturizes the skin.
Cellular regeneration: Sheep’smilk contains vitamins and minerals that help regenerate skin cells.
Anti-inflammatory: Sheep’smilk soap has anti-inflammatory properties, making it suitable for people with skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis.
Antioxidants: Sheep’smilk soap contains vitamins A and E, which have antioxidant properties that protect the skin from damage.
Lactic acid: Sheep’smilk contains lactic acid, which is a natural exfoliant that removes dead skin cells and brightens the skin.
Anti-bacterial and anti-viral: Sheep’smilk contains compounds that have anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.
Strengthens skin barrier: Sheep’smilk soap strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, protecting it from external damage and aging.

People use soap to effectively remove dirt, grease, oil, and harmful microbes from their skin by utilizing its unique molecular structure which allows it to attract and lift away these substances with water, essentially acting as a cleanser and helping maintain hygiene by preventing the spread of germs; essentially, soap acts as a bridge between water and oily substances that normally wouldn’t mix, enabling them to be washed away.

WHY DO PEOPLE BUY HANDMADE SHEEP MILK SOAP?