Dear Supporter

Last week’s podcast on Jews and the pig with Jordan Rosenblum raised lots of questions. Aside from a brief mention of Marvin Harris’ debunking of the trichinosis idea — Harris thought it was all about the pig’s need for water and shade to keep cool — there wasn’t much about the origins of or reasons for the taboo on pork.

I’m therefore pleased to share a comprehensive roundup from Andrew Lawler in Archaeology magazine — On the Origin of the Pork Taboo — which also calls on Jordan Rosenblum.

I found it fascinating.