Mushrooms and Their Cultivation Throughout History

Mushrooms have a long history, from Upper Paleolithic times to the present. Ancient Egyptians lauded it for its medicinal benefits, and today—believe it or not—industries can use it for construction purposes. So what’s the role of mushroom cultivation throughout history? Read on to find out. 

Ötzi the Iceman

In 1991, German hikers in the Ötzal Alps came across an unusual sight: a European mummy lay face-down in the snow. They initially thought the corpse was modern, but later, scientists would learn that he was over 3,200 years old—the oldest known European mummy. They also found something curious on his body: mushrooms around his neck and in his suitcase. The Fomes fomentarius variety was found in his girdle bag along with quite a bit of tinder material. Fomes mushrooms hold embers that can create a slow-burning fire, which is especially useful when one needs to survive while traveling from one place to another. Ötzi also carried Fomitopsis betulina mushrooms around his neck. He must have used it to remove pests and parasites, although one can also grind it into a paste and use it to heal wounds in a pinch.

Of course, Ötzi wasn’t the first human to have used mushrooms to supplement his survival. We find that mushrooms have had other uses throughout history.

The Ancient Egyptians

The ancient Egyptians viewed mushrooms as supernatural. Consumption was thought to grant immortality, and mushrooms were commonly associated with Asar—more commonly known as Osiris—an agricultural deity turned Judge of the Dead. Because of this special significance, only royalty were allowed to use mushrooms, often using it in mummification rites and rituals.

The Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, people viewed the use of mushrooms for medical and edible purposes with suspicion due to the perceived “unnatural” nature of their growth. Some mushrooms appeared to pop up overnight, which was considered a sign of devilry, not a scientific wonder. Today we know that growing mushrooms has a multitude of benefits, but unfortunately, these fell on deaf ears in the Middle Ages.

In short, the cultivation of mushrooms has a vast, nuanced history. This article is just the tip of the iceberg, but these few highlights demonstrate the versatility of fungi, and hopefully, further research will yield more insight.