The Small Hills of Wechsel: Geological Origins and Ancient Spiritual Connections explores the possibility that meat-curing practices in this region date back at least 10,000 years. These scattered hills, shaped over millennia by tectonic forces and glaciation, were not just geographic features but sacred sites for the people of Noricum and early Celtic and Germanic tribes. Viewed as spiritual thresholds, these hills influenced local myths, survival techniques, and the development of early meat-curing methods that connected with the rhythms of nature and the need for winter sustenance.
This post is part of Sacred Curing Chronicles, a sub-section within Zeno Holisticus, an EarthwormExpress project dedicated to exploring humanity’s interconnectedness with the cosmos and the natural world.
20 October 24
Eben van Tonder
Introduction
The Wechsel Mountains, located along the eastern edge of the Austrian Alps, form a rugged boundary between Styria and Lower Austria. In ancient times, this area was part of Noricum, an independent Celtic kingdom established by a federation of Celtic tribes around the 2nd century BCE. Spanning what is now Austria and parts of Slovenia, Noricum thrived on rich iron deposits, becoming a valuable trading partner to Rome and a key supplier of resources across the empire. After its annexation by Emperor Augustus in 15 BCE, Noricum transitioned from an allied kingdom to a Roman province, which further integrated the region into the economic and strategic fabric of the empire.
In this post, we investigate the possibility that meat-curing technology in the Wechsel region may extend back at least 10,000 years, examining the forces that fostered competitiveness and survival in an unforgiving environment. This exploration begins with the geological study of the Wechsel Mountains and the powerful tectonic and glacial forces that shaped them, creating unique hills and resistant rock formations that not only defined the landscape but also influenced local mythology. We then ask: What technologies were required to survive in this inhospitable area?
The region’s ancient trade routes, including the Amber Road that connected the Baltic to the Mediterranean from as early as the 2nd millennium BCE, made the Wechsel Mountains a strategic and cultural crossroads. These routes brought valuable goods like amber, salt, and iron to central and eastern Europe. Beyond facilitating trade, the Amber Road and similar pathways exposed the Wechsel region to technology transfer, as merchants, soldiers, and travellers from distant regions passed through, exchanging knowledge, skills, and innovations. This continuous flow of ideas likely spurred the development and refinement of essential survival technologies, such as food preservation, enabling the local population to adopt, adapt, and even innovate techniques that supported them through the area’s challenging winters.
The Wechsel region has some of the oldest meat-curing and sausage-making traditions in Europe, rooted in practices that may have originated out of necessity in prehistoric times. By extrapolating from this context, we theorize that for a population subsisting largely on meat in such a challenging environment, as described by thinkers like Michael Porter, one of the earliest survival technologies likely to have developed was meat curing and processing to endure harsh winters. This analysis supports the probability that the meat-curing traditions of the Wechsel region are ancient, possibly extending back to the Ice Age when preserving food meant survival.
Geological Foundations and Cultural Interpretation
We begin our evaluation by examining the Wechsel region’s geology, shaped by the powerful collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. This convergence created immense pressures that fractured the Earth’s crust in multiple locations, with the Wechsel region lying along one of these significant fracture zones (Neubauer, Handler, & Fritz, 2002). Over millions of years, tectonic uplift along these fractures pushed parts of the fractured crust upwards, creating striking, pointy rocks that dot the landscape. These formations, resembling elongated, surfboard-like shapes, appear to protrude directly from within the earth, and the small hills scattered throughout the region seem to have been “pushed up” from below.
Unlike typical hills, these formations have retained their distinct shapes due to their crystalline structures and resilience to erosion. The rocks here consist of Wechselgneis, Wechselschiefer, and Wechselglimmer, metamorphic types formed under extreme pressure and heat within the Earth’s crust. Wechselgneis is a layered, banded rock, composed of minerals such as feldspar, quartz, and mica, while Wechselschiefer is a flaky, reflective rock rich in mica, and Wechselglimmer, a mica-rich rock containing muscovite, adds a shimmering quality (Frey & Mätzler, 2001; Oberhänsli et al., 2004). This unique combination of rocks contributes to the distinct, resilient formations seen across the Wechsel region, where tectonic uplift has exposed fractured layers, now visibly protruding from the landscape.
During the last glacial period, which lasted from approximately 115,000 to 11,700 years ago, glaciers scoured the Alps, eroding softer materials and leaving behind only the most resistant formations, such as Wechselgneis and Wechselschiefer. These durable rocks, formed under extreme pressures and temperatures, now define the scattered hills and rocky outcrops across the Wechsel region (Florineth & Schlüchter, 2000; Dunkl & Frisch, 2002). Archaeological evidence suggests that, despite the harsh conditions, human groups inhabited parts of this region during warmer interglacial phases, adapting their survival strategies to the challenging landscape. These resilient rock formations continue to rise above the surrounding terrain, giving the Wechsel region a rugged, mystical appearance—a landscape sculpted by geological processes that stretch back millions of years and observed by early inhabitants seeking to survive in this demanding environment.
Mythological Integration: Interpreting the Landscape through Spiritual Beliefs
Ancient inhabitants of the Wechsel region interpreted these distinctive landscape features through mythological frameworks that connected them with spiritual and survival-oriented practices. The immense, glacially altered landscape, combined with tectonic uplift, gave rise to myths that incorporated the land’s dramatic features into narratives about survival, spiritual thresholds, and otherworldly forces.
1. Ice Ages and the Birth of Mythology
Human presence in the Wechsel region dates back tens of thousands of years, with evidence suggesting that early populations arrived during warmer interglacial phases within the last glacial period (approximately 115,000 to 11,700 years ago) (Dixon, 1999). Early humans, likely small hunter-gatherer groups, migrated into Central Europe from regions further south, particularly from refuges in the Iberian Peninsula and southeastern Europe, where populations had retreated to endure the harshest glacial conditions (Gamble et al., 2004). By around 20,000 years ago, as the last glacial maximum receded and the climate began to gradually warm, human groups moved northward, occupying regions like the Alps and eventually the Wechsel area as conditions became more hospitable (Finlayson, 2004).
While precise population numbers are difficult to estimate, it is believed that small, highly mobile bands of humans—typically comprising fewer than 50 individuals per group—were scattered throughout the region approximately 11,000 years ago. These early humans would have encountered a landscape deeply influenced by glacial processes, observing glaciers carve out valleys, expose rock formations, and shape the hills that dotted the terrain. Witnessing such dramatic transformations, these groups likely developed mythologies attributing supernatural forces to the landscape around them, viewing hills, rocks, and glaciers as manifestations of divine or chthonic powers (Bradley, 1998). Over time, these beliefs would form the basis for later Celtic and Germanic spiritual frameworks, as descendants of these early groups continued to populate the region.
2. Stone Hills as Portals to the Underworld
The Wechsel region, with its distinct geological features and glacially formed hills, offered a powerful landscape for early spiritual beliefs among Celtic and Germanic tribes. In these traditions, natural features that appeared to emerge from the earth—pointed rocks, protruding stones, and scattered hills—were often seen as sacred thresholds to the underworld. In Celtic and Germanic belief systems, the underworld was not only a realm of the dead but also a domain of chthonic spirits and deities who influenced the land, seasons, and survival of the living. The unique formations in the Wechsel region, shaped by tectonic forces and glacial activity, were interpreted as places where the earth’s power broke through the surface, creating direct access points to these supernatural forces (Müller, 2004). Such rock formations were seen as “living” stones, imbued with the spirits of the land, and they became focal points for rituals designed to honor, appease, or communicate with these chthonic powers.
Ancient peoples likely viewed these stones and hills as sacred portals where the boundaries between the physical and spiritual realms were porous. Green (1995) notes that in many early European societies, stones and hills that seemed to “grow” from the ground symbolized points where the forces of the underworld were accessible to humans. These natural features may have marked sites of reverence, where rituals and offerings were conducted to ensure protection, fertility, and the continuity of resources. Such beliefs likely played a central role in shaping how early communities approached food preservation and storage practices, particularly during harsh winters when resources were scarce and survival depended on careful management of food supplies.
The spiritual reverence for natural thresholds and chthonic powers may have directly influenced the development of early meat preservation methods. The Wechsel region’s challenging environment required practical methods to store meat through winter, and it is possible that early rituals were linked to these practices. Evidence of food preservation, specifically meat curing, exists in later Celtic and Germanic traditions, with salt and smoke used to preserve food for seasonal shortages. While direct evidence from the Paleolithic period is sparse, some researchers speculate that the reverence for chthonic forces could have imbued the act of food preservation with spiritual significance, as early humans sought blessings from underworld deities to protect their food stores.
A fascinating parallel is found in the discovery of Ötzi the Iceman, a naturally mummified man from the Copper Age (circa 3300 BCE), whose remains were discovered in the Eastern Alps, not far from the Wechsel region. Ötzi’s belongings and the preserved state of his body provide significant insight into the survival practices of early Alpine communities. Analysis of his stomach contents revealed traces of ibex and red deer meat, suggesting that meat preservation was a known practice by this time. Furthermore, microscopic examination of the meat indicates that it may have been dried or lightly smoked, pointing toward early methods of meat curing (Dickson et al., 2000). While Ötzi lived millennia after the peak of glacial activity, his remains provide a window into the continuity of survival techniques in the Alps. His preserved body also reflects a broader respect for and interaction with the Alpine environment, where survival practices were intertwined with the spiritual beliefs of the time.
3. Mythology as a Survival Framework
In the Wechsel region, where the terrain is rugged and resources are limited, myth served as more than a set of stories or beliefs; it acted as a crucial framework for survival. By infusing natural features like rocks, hills, and glacial formations with spiritual significance, ancient cultures fostered a deep respect for the environment, recognizing that their survival depended on their relationship with the land. For these communities, nature was not a passive backdrop but a living entity filled with chthonic spirits and ancestral forces that could either aid or hinder human life. Hills, stones, and streams were seen as dwelling places of these supernatural beings, and it was believed that misusing resources would anger the spirits or disrupt the balance between the natural and human realms. This belief system effectively encouraged environmental stewardship, a way of living in harmony with the land rather than exploiting it.
Green (1995) elaborates that this spiritual regard for natural elements created a cultural expectation of careful, respectful use of resources. Rocks and hills, viewed as sacred sites or thresholds to the underworld, were not simply raw materials to be taken freely. Instead, each act of hunting, gathering, or building was approached with a sense of reverence, often accompanied by rituals or offerings meant to honour the spirits associated with the land. For instance, stones that seemed to emerge from the ground or hills that appeared to rise from nowhere were often believed to be places where the veil between worlds was thin. Such places might have been chosen for important ceremonies or rites, where people gathered to give thanks to the earth and seek blessings for a successful hunt or harvest. In this way, the natural landscape became woven into the cultural practices and daily lives of its inhabitants, influencing not only their spiritual beliefs but also their approach to resource management.
This cultural framework established what we might call an early form of sustainability, guiding people to use resources with restraint and mindfulness. The mythology that surrounded natural formations acted as a set of unwritten “rules” for interacting with the environment. Cutting down a tree, hunting an animal, or gathering plants was not merely an act of resource acquisition but a dialogue with the spirits of the land. Offerings might have been made to the spirits of the hunted animals or to the stones marking the sacred sites, seeking permission and ensuring that the balance between humans and nature was maintained. Such practices, though spiritual in origin, had practical consequences; by using resources sparingly and with reverence, early communities could avoid the depletion of essential resources, a vital consideration in areas with limited arable land and long, harsh winters.
This mindset of conservation would have extended to food preservation techniques, such as curing meat, which were essential for survival during times when fresh resources were scarce. In a landscape where the winters could be severe, and the availability of game unpredictable, practices of resourcefulness were key. The act of preserving meat—whether through smoking, drying, curing, salting or a combination of these—would have imparted the same reverence as other resource-gathering activities. Curing and storing food may have been accompanied by rituals to honour the spirits, ensuring that the preserved meat would last through the winter and provide sustenance for the entire community. This respect for food as a life-sustaining gift from the earth is a principle grounded in many ancient cultures, where wastefulness was not just frowned upon but seen as a transgression against the spirits of the land.
This reverent attitude toward nature and its resources has endured through the centuries, as seen in the perspectives of people living in the region today. My collaborator in this work and friend from Styria recently shared her views on the mountains, describing them not as inanimate formations but as living, breathing entities that communicate with those who venture into their realm. She explained that one must remain attuned to the mountains’ messages, responding with respect and humility to maintain harmony with the landscape. This modern-day perspective illustrates how, for many, the spiritual and physical realms are still deeply intertwined, forming an approach that is not only philosophical but also practical. Such an attitude embodies the belief that blending spiritual reverence with physical awareness is essential for truly understanding and thriving within the environment.
In fact, this holistic approach—grounding practical actions in a spiritual understanding of the landscape—has long been essential for survival in environments like the Wechsel region, where nature can be both generous and unforgiving. No matter how advanced or scientifically informed modern society may become, this integrated perspective has consistently proven more resilient than a purely detached, science-based view. A balanced approach, rooted in both respect for the land’s physical demands and an acknowledgement of its spiritual essence, fosters a relationship of mutual respect and is inherently more productive! This enduring attitude in the Wechsel region reveals that a framework combining the tangible and the intangible aspects of nature has always been, and continues to be, the wisest path to survival.
Competitive Advantage of Adversity: Cognitive Resilience and Technological Innovation
Michael E. Porter, a professor at Harvard Business School, is renowned for his influential theories on competitiveness and economic strategy. His seminal work, The Competitive Advantage of Nations (1990), introduced a framework for understanding how nations, regions, and industries achieve competitive success through innovation driven by environmental and cultural factors. Porter posits that competitive advantage arises not from abundant resources alone but from the ability to respond strategically to challenging environments. His “diamond model” highlights four key factors that shape competitiveness: firm strategy and rivalry, factor conditions (such as resources and labour), demand conditions, and related and supporting industries. Porter argues that adversity—such as scarce resources or difficult climates—can sharpen focus on survival strategies and drive a culture of innovation and excellence.
Porter’s theory had a profound impact on my own worldview when I first encountered it in my early 20s. His insights on how challenging environments foster resilience and innovation resonate strongly with the history of the Wechsel region. In the Wechsel, where relocating to milder areas was rarely feasible, inhabitants were compelled to confront and adapt to harsh winters, limited resources, and isolation. This adversity led to a culture of focused innovation, where survival strategies were refined and passed down through generations, providing a competitive edge deeply embedded in the community’s practices.
1. Innovation Rooted in Survival
A few months ago, my Austrian collaborator and friend introduced me to an intriguing concept: that the Ice Age itself could have acted as a vector for cultivating a culture of precise thinking, innovation, leadership, and efficient resource use in regions like Europe. This idea aligns with Michael E. Porter’s insights in The Competitive Advantage of Nations, where he argues that adversity drives communities to develop a competitive edge through highly focused survival strategies. Porter has shaped our understanding of economic and competitive forces with his theories, which suggest that challenging environments can fuel innovation by forcing societies to sharpen their methods of thinking and resource management.
Porter’s framework is particularly relevant when applied to the conditions faced by early European societies during the Ice Age, where populations could not simply migrate in response to climatic shifts. Instead, they were bound to endure and adapt within their environment, fostering a culture that prioritized precise and effective thinking to survive. In The Competitive Advantage of Nations, Porter explains that “the more localized the competitive pressures, the greater the innovation” (Porter, 1990, p. 136), implying that societies confined by unyielding environmental forces are driven to refine their strategies with extraordinary rigour. In the case of Ice Age Europe, my collaborator’s concept suggests that communities had to adopt methods of thinking that went beyond survival, shaping a legacy of intellectual resilience and systematic problem-solving that persisted over millennia.
For years, I have sought to understand the roots of Europe’s high level of scholastic excellence and innovation, and I believe this precision-driven mindset of early communities, forced to contend with the unyielding elements, may be one essential factor. According to Porter, “demanding environments create a ‘push’ for higher performance,” rewarding those who respond to adversity with robust, adaptive solutions (Porter, 1990, p. 159). Societies in Ice Age Europe exemplify this principle: facing the brutal cold, scarce resources, and isolation, they honed survival strategies that not only met immediate needs but laid the groundwork for sophisticated cultural and intellectual achievements.
Another important context is the diet of these early communities, which, as the agricultural revolution was only beginning to take root, was heavily reliant on meat. In such challenging environments, a meat-based diet offers advantages over plant-based options, particularly in terms of nutrient density and caloric yield per gram. My research on EarthwormExpress (see How did Ancient Humans Preserve Food? and Ancient Humans Ate Meat!) further supports that meat-based diets were optimal for survival in cold, inhospitable climates. Meat provided the proteins, fats, and energy needed to endure severe winters, and this reliance on meat likely necessitated the development of superior food preservation techniques, such as curing and smoking. These methods allowed communities to store vital food supplies through seasons when fresh resources were unavailable.
Given this dietary reality, Porter’s assertion that adversity shapes innovation holds true for the development of meat-curing techniques in regions like the Wechsel, where winter survival hinged on carefully managing and preserving protein sources. Porter’s insight that “competitive advantage grows out of pressure and challenge” (Porter, 1990, p. 142) aptly describes this environment. Communities forced to maximize their resources and plan for harsh winters likely refined food preservation methods with a precision that other regions, without such severe constraints, might not have achieved. Over time, these techniques would evolve, becoming embedded in the cultural fabric of Europe and laying the groundwork for the meat preservation traditions that continue today.
Thus, the Ice Age environment shaped more than survival tactics; it established a culture of disciplined thinking and innovative practices that would fuel intellectual and technological progress in later centuries. By linking Porter’s theories with the Ice Age pressures faced by early European societies, we gain insight into how the hardships of this period fostered a mindset that prized resourcefulness and intellectual rigour. This culture, informed by generations of environmental hardship, provided fertile ground for the scholastic and technological advancements that Europe would later be known for, exemplifying Porter’s idea that “competitive advantage is shaped by challenging conditions” (Porter, 1990, p. 540). Through the lens of this collaborative idea with my Austrian friend, we can view the Ice Age not just as a time of struggle but as a crucible that forged some of Europe’s most enduring qualities in innovation and intellectual achievement.
2. Isolation and the Evolution of Specialized Knowledge
Henrich (2004) offers a compelling perspective on how isolation shapes societies, arguing that isolated communities are forced to develop highly specialized knowledge systems and adaptive practices primarily driven by necessity rather than by influence or support from external sources. This dynamic is particularly relevant when applied to the Wechsel region, where geographical isolation, challenging weather patterns, and limited resources created an environment that required communities to be almost entirely self-sufficient. This self-sufficiency fostered a depth of knowledge and an adaptive approach to survival that would echo down the centuries, ultimately shaping the intellectual and technological character of the region.
This notion of isolated innovation aligns closely with Porter’s insights on competitive advantage. Porter emphasizes that environments marked by adversity and scarcity stimulate innovation and force communities to achieve excellence in the resources they control. In his Competitive Advantage of Nations, Porter asserts that “pressure and challenge create the impetus for improvement” (Porter, 1990, p. 136). He argues that societies under intense environmental pressure cannot rely on outside resources to resolve their challenges; instead, they must leverage the skills, materials, and knowledge available to them, leading to a unique form of excellence shaped by the constraints of their environment.
The Wechsel region, surrounded by difficult terrain and marked by a scarcity of resources, likely nurtured precisely this kind of innovation. Porter’s framework implies that, faced with the unyielding demands of their environment, communities in Wechsel honed highly specialized techniques in food preservation, agriculture, and tool-making as they were forced to optimize every aspect of their survival. For instance, in this harsh landscape, early inhabitants would have had to develop efficient methods for preserving meat to survive the long winters. This requirement likely spurred the innovation of curing and smoking techniques that were meticulously refined over generations, not only as a practical means of storing food but as a knowledge system deeply ingrained in the culture.
As Henrich (2004) describes, this isolation-driven innovation extended beyond mere survival tactics, cultivating complex knowledge systems that would underpin later cultural and technological advancements. Over time, these systems of specialized knowledge were passed down and adapted, becoming core aspects of the region’s intellectual heritage. This intellectual rigour found a natural home in the monastic communities that arose in the area during the medieval period. The monasteries were not only spiritual centres but also hubs of agricultural and technological innovation, embodying a disciplined approach to study and work. Porter’s theory suggests that such institutions, while geographically isolated, thrived by constantly refining their methods, driven by the same adaptive focus that had sustained the region’s people for centuries.
Moreover, as Porter notes, “sustained competitive advantage arises from a relentless drive to improve and refine” (Porter, 1990, p. 137). The Wechsel region’s isolated communities had no choice but to innovate with what they had, instilling a relentless drive for improvement that would later be mirrored in the monastic tradition. The monasteries became centres of agricultural experimentation and record-keeping, where monastic scholars not only preserved classical knowledge but also enhanced agricultural and production methods. This intellectual dedication was not an isolated phenomenon; it was deeply rooted in the region’s historical need to overcome adversity through methodical, systematic thinking.
By combining Henrich’s insights on isolated innovation with Porter’s theory of competitive advantage, we can see how the Wechsel region’s challenging conditions fostered a unique intellectual tradition. Communities here didn’t just survive; they developed an adaptive, resource-maximizing mindset that emphasized meticulous study and constant improvement, traits that would later manifest in the agricultural and technological practices of the medieval monasteries. This cultivated resilience became a legacy of intellectual and practical rigor, passed down as a heritage of excellence that defined the region.
The Wechsel region’s isolation likely fostered an early tradition of technological innovation and intellectual resilience. Porter’s assertion that “competitive advantage is created, not inherited” (Porter, 1990, p. 138) resonates strongly with the progression from early survival strategies to the sophisticated practices of monastic communities. Both Henrich’s and Porter’s theories reveal that the constraints of isolation and scarcity can catalyze a tradition of disciplined innovation, which becomes a lasting cultural and intellectual strength. Through centuries of adapting to their environment, the people of the Wechsel region transformed necessity into a deeply rooted culture of specialized knowledge, technological advancement, and intellectual depth—qualities that would contribute significantly to the scholastic and technological heritage of Europe.
3. Cognitive Resilience and the “Intensity Advantage” of Survival Focus
Porter’s insights into competitive advantage provide a robust framework for understanding how the Wechsel region’s challenging environment fostered an intensity of focus and clarity in long-term thinking, crucial for both survival and cultural advancement. His concept of an “intensity advantage” suggests that difficult conditions force communities to develop a strategic mindset that prioritizes not only immediate needs but also future sustainability and innovation. As Porter (1990) states, “only under the pressure of necessity do organizations and nations work to their full potential” (p. 130). This intensity advantage is seen throughout the Wechsel region’s history, where isolated communities, facing limited resources and harsh winters, honed a forward-thinking mentality that laid the groundwork for technological and intellectual growth.
In the Wechsel region, where strategic planning was essential to survival, this focus on resilience and adaptability became part of the local culture. In his analysis of competitive advantage, Porter (1990) notes, “Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity, yet it is not something that can be purchased or borrowed—it must be nurtured within the pressures of one’s environment” (p. 140). In later years, this principle was especially applicable to the region’s monastic communities, which became centres of agricultural and intellectual accomplishment. The monasteries embraced a structured, disciplined approach to learning, experimentation, and innovation, much like the strategic rigour their ancestors had applied to survive in such an unforgiving environment.
This culturally ingrained focus on resilience led to remarkable advancements in agriculture, technology, and intellectual pursuits within these monastic centres. Early monastic communities not only served as spiritual centres but also became key players in agricultural and technological innovation. In response to their environment, they developed methods for maximizing crop yields, preserving food, and utilizing natural resources sustainably—innovations born from a mindset of adaptability and long-term planning. Porter (1990) argues that “the most dynamic forces for innovation and prosperity arise from within,” suggesting that internal resilience is more impactful than external aid in fostering lasting advancement (p. 155). In the Wechsel region, this resilience was evident as monasteries transformed themselves into hubs of productivity and intellectual depth, demonstrating a tradition of self-sufficiency and knowledge preservation that resonated with the survival-driven mindset of the region’s earlier inhabitants.
Additionally, Porter’s observations about the importance of “systematic improvement” apply well to the adaptive strategies honed by the Wechsel’s inhabitants and later refined by monastic scholars. In his words, “a nation’s ability to improve its living standards depends on its capacity to upgrade its competitive position and sustain its productivity growth” (Porter, 1990, p. 160). The region’s early communities, driven by the necessity to plan for long winters, developed a culture that valued efficiency, systematic work, and ongoing improvement. This mentality, steeped in resilience and resourcefulness, became a legacy inherited by the monastic communities. The monks continued to push for “upgrades” within their own systems, whether in agricultural practices, technological innovations, or intellectual inquiry. This continuous improvement, grounded in a historical context of necessity, became a defining characteristic of the region’s heritage.
The Wechsel region’s commitment to resilience and precision is further illuminated by Porter’s emphasis on mental clarity and focus under pressure. Porter (1990) notes, “Pressure enhances the ability to focus. It separates essential from non-essential and forces concentration on the core requirements for success” (p. 120). This pressure-driven clarity, honed over centuries of survival adaptation, encouraged the region’s inhabitants to approach each task with meticulousness and purpose. This same clarity is evident in the intellectual pursuits of the monastic communities, who engaged in detailed record-keeping, meticulous experimentation, and rigorous documentation of their agricultural and theological studies. For them, learning was not merely a theoretical exercise but a strategic means to adapt and thrive in their environment.
Porter also observes that adversity fosters strong, problem-solving leadership, essential for competitive advantage. In isolated and demanding regions like the Wechsel, community leaders would have needed to demonstrate practical skills, foresight, and an ability to motivate others toward common goals. Porter (1990) emphasizes that “leaders in challenging environments must command respect through competency and vision, often fostering stronger organizational structures and group cohesion” (p. 175). This concept is reflected in the monastic leaders of the region, who not only maintained order within their communities but also inspired a commitment to rigorous scholarship, sustainable agriculture, and technological progress. The leadership style that evolved in such isolated communities was marked by a deep understanding of practical survival coupled with a vision for long-term prosperity—a balance essential for guiding both secular and spiritual goals within the monasteries.
Porter’s framework suggests that challenging environments don’t just spur immediate solutions; they create enduring cultural traits that influence generations. In the Wechsel region, the combination of isolation, environmental pressure, and a resilient, self-sufficient culture produced a legacy of excellence in agricultural techniques, intellectual pursuits, and monastic discipline. Porter (1990) concludes that “the competitive advantage of any entity—be it a nation, a company, or a community—rests in its ability to respond to adversity with creativity and resilience, shaping strategies that capitalize on internal strengths” (p. 210). This statement rings particularly true for the Wechsel region, where adversity drove communities to develop and pass down a tradition of intellectual rigour, innovative farming methods, and technological advancements, which would later become foundational to Europe’s broader scholastic and technological legacy.
The Wechsel region’s history exemplifies Porter’s theories on competitive advantage under adversity. The necessity of survival in a harsh environment nurtured a resilient culture that valued precision, long-term planning, and continuous improvement. Monastic communities became the custodians of this heritage, transforming survival skills into intellectual and technological advancements that enriched the region and contributed to European intellectual history. Through the lens of Porter’s work, we see how the Wechsel region’s challenges acted as a catalyst, not only for immediate survival but for an enduring culture of excellence that would resonate through generations.
Didactic Progressions on the Origin of Meat Curing into Antiquity
In examining the origins of meat curing in regions like the Wechsel, we can deduce the development of this technology by considering various interconnected factors. The prominence of meat in early diets, the climate challenges posed by prolonged, intense winters, and the region’s geology all suggest that methods for preserving meat were not only necessary but would have evolved over thousands of years to ensure survival. Isolation, combined with low population density, limited the possibility of rapid migration to more hospitable regions, meaning communities had to innovate within their environment rather than relocate. Given this context and the high probability that preservation techniques like drying, smoking, and even the use of ammonia and lime were already understood, it is likely that these methods were systematically refined during the Ice Age when environmental pressures would have intensified their importance.
Porter’s theories on competitive advantage offer a valuable framework for understanding this evolution. As he explains, challenging environments pressure societies to develop solutions that maximize internal strengths, creating an “intensity advantage” that promotes focus and innovation (Porter, 1990). In the Wechsel region, where resources were scarce and winters particularly harsh, meat curing would have provided an essential means of storing high-quality protein through months when hunting and fresh resources were difficult or impossible to access. Curing would therefore have emerged not merely as a technical solution to food scarcity but as an adaptive technology set, honed and improved over time in response to constant adversity. In such a setting, where meat was one of the few reliable resources, systematic approaches to preservation were essential, particularly for a community whose survival depended almost entirely on what they could store.
This context suggests that the development of meat curing in Wechsel was a direct response to these pressures, where technology, necessity, and cultural practices intersected to ensure the continuity and resilience of early communities.
1. Winter Survival and Meat Curing
During the last glacial period (approximately 115,000 to 11,700 years ago), inhabitants of the Wechsel region would have needed reliable food sources to survive. The earliest forms of meat curing likely involved salt and smoke, techniques that allowed meat to be stored for extended periods without spoiling. The practical need for preservation was essential, but the act of curing may have taken on spiritual significance, as these preserved foods represented life-saving sustenance through winter.
The combination of a meat-heavy diet and an unforgiving climate would have necessitated advanced curing techniques far earlier than in regions where dietary diversity or milder climates made such practices less urgent. Porter’s framework suggests that such “sustained excellence” in any domain, including survival technologies, arises not from abundance but from the repeated application of innovative practices in response to adversity (Porter, 1990, p. 175). In Wechsel, where survival through glacial winters depended on precise methods for food preservation, these communities would have adapted and refined their curing techniques over generations, embedding these methods into the cultural and spiritual framework that shaped their daily lives.
Porter’s concept of competitive advantage in challenging environments aligns perfectly with this hypothesis. He argues that “competitive pressure… fosters the ability to push resource efficiency and technological skill to the limit” (Porter, 1990, p. 155). For early humans in Wechsel, developing efficient meat-curing techniques would have been not merely advantageous but essential, pushing them to experiment and refine preservation methods that would provide the maximum utility from their resources. In such a setting, the necessity of survival likely fostered a disciplined approach to resource management, emphasizing techniques that allowed for the storage of critical nutrients with minimal waste. This environment of necessity-driven innovation would have cultivated a culture of experimentation, in which even minor improvements in preservation technology could make a difference in survival.
2. Technological Advancements in Meat Preservation
By 10,000 BCE, early humans demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of preservation techniques, with evidence suggesting the use of substances like ammonia and lime. Archaeological evidence from various regions points to ammonia-based curing as an early method for preserving meat and other perishable resources. Ammonia, produced through the natural fermentation of organic matter, served as a preservative due to its alkaline properties, which inhibited bacterial growth (Renfrew & Bahn, 2008; Dickson, 2000). In areas with accessible lime deposits, communities may have observed its alkaline qualities and applied it to meat to create an environment unfavourable to microbial growth (Salque et al., 2013).
Additionally, in areas where lime deposits were accessible, it is plausible that early communities noticed its alkaline properties and experimented with applying it to meat. Lime’s high pH level would have helped create an environment unfavourable to microbial growth on meat surfaces, thereby extending the meat’s shelf life during the coldest months (Salque et al., 2013). This adaptation of lime for preservation aligns with a broader pattern in early human societies, where environmental observation led to practical applications that supported survival under harsh conditions.
This development of preservation techniques was therefore not merely a response to need but became a structured part of the culture, evolving into a highly specialized knowledge system integral to the community’s survival.
3. Meat Blessings as Offerings of Gratitude
The tradition of blessing cured meats, still observed in some Easter traditions, may have its roots in ancient gratitude offerings. In a survival context, people may have regarded cured meat as a gift from the gods or the spirits of the land that had enabled their survival. By blessing the best of their cured meats, they offered thanks for the resources that had sustained them through winter. Burenhult (2002) observes that early European societies often connected food preservation with spiritual offerings, recognizing the connection between survival and divine favour. Thus, the blessing of meat may have symbolized a broader act of respect and gratitude, with ancient communities bringing forth the essence of their winter sustenance as a tribute to the spirits they believed had protected them through harsh seasons.
In many ancient societies, the end of winter was marked by rituals honouring deities who protected resources through the lean months, as well as offering gratitude for the preserved food that sustained the community. For example, in ancient Mesopotamia, seasonal festivals such as the Akitu involved offerings and rituals celebrating the renewal of life after winter, emphasizing gratitude for agricultural and livestock resources that had been safeguarded (Bottéro, 2001). Similarly, ancient Celtic traditions included feasts and ceremonies around Imbolc (early February), a festival marking the winter’s end, where offerings were made to spirits of hearth and home in gratitude for protection and survival through winter (Green, 1995).
In the Wechsel region, where meat curing likely held a crucial role in winter survival, the blessing of cured meats could have become a ritualized way of expressing thanks for the successful preservation of resources. Honouring the forces believed to govern the curing process, such as deities or chthonic spirits tied to the earth, would have reinforced the community’s reliance on spiritual as well as practical protection. Chthonic spirits are deities or supernatural entities associated with the earth and the underworld. In ancient cultures, chthonic (from the Greek word khthonios, meaning “of the earth”) spirits were believed to reside below the ground, in caves, or within natural formations like hills and stones. These spirits were often thought to govern aspects of fertility, the cycles of life and death, and the hidden forces of nature. Unlike sky or celestial gods, who were associated with the heavens and visible power, chthonic spirits were linked to the mysteries beneath the earth, the realm of the dead, and the forces of regeneration (Green, 1995).
Over time, this act of thanksgiving could have evolved into an established tradition of blessing cured meats, embodying a legacy that held practical, psychological, and spiritual significance for early societies.
Conclusion: Geological Foundations and the Origins of Cultural Resilience
The Wechsel region’s landscape, formed through tectonic uplift, glaciation, and selective erosion, is more than a geological phenomenon—it is a foundation for understanding how environmental challenges shaped human culture, survival, and innovation. The resilient hills of Wechsel, created from Wechselgneis, Wechselschiefer, and Wechselglimmer, were not just physical landmarks but also symbols of resilience and adaptation that influenced ancient spiritual beliefs and survival strategies.
As early inhabitants faced the relentless demands of glacial winters, they developed practices that became both technological and spiritual cornerstones. Curing meat, initially a survival technique, likely evolved into a ritual of gratitude, where cured meat represented the life-sustaining essence that saw communities through the winter. This fusion of practicality and spirituality, emerging in response to environmental adversity, fostered a tradition of resilience and reverence for nature that persisted even as monastic communities later formalized these values into rigorous intellectual and agricultural advancements.
Through examining the Wechsel region’s geology, mythology, and technological legacy, we gain a broader perspective on how early societies turned survival strategies into cultural practices that honoured both the land and the forces they believed sustained them. The tradition of meat curing, possibly originating as an ancient response to glacial hardships, offers insight into how cultural resilience and survival-based innovation can leave lasting imprints on human history.
My Defence
Here I defend the proposition that meat curing is older than 11,000 years and that the Ice Age was probably a major contributor to its development in this region.
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