At 11:19 AM 12/13/1999 -0800, you wrote:
>...  Also, this doesnt account for carrion.  Some 'experts'
>>believe that humans were largely scavangers.
>
>Dear Wade, this is fascinating, the scavenger bit. Do you have references
>for this? Maybe humans were eating a lot more bacteria back then?  Maybe it
>is healthier than we think to eat aged meats that do have bacteria in them?
>Just wondering.

I dont remember specific references and also don't know if this
idea is currently in vogue but I had read several papers suggesting that
when people first ate meat is was scavenged.  I believe the basic aguement
is that people are ill equipped bodily to be getting alot (any?) meat from
killing but 'obviously' have a taste for meat.  Alot of prehistory is filled in
with educated guesses and these guesses seem to change.  I have read other
places (maybe Food History by Tannahil ?) that many peoples have eaten rotted
meat on purpose.  In fact, preferring this way.  This included well hung
pheasant for the English who would hang the bird by the neck until it fell
off.  Also, some Pacific coast indians and ancient Romans were mentioned
for there preference of rotten meat.  They apparently (evidently?) didnt
have the same problems with bacteria in the meat.  In any event, it is only
certain bacteria that are a problem and perhaps they are not much of a
problem with proper diet.


>Speaking if aging, how long does dried beef jerky keep, and under what
>conditions? I have had some in my refrigerator and it has been there for
>quite some time as my son eats only the wild game meat. How long does it
>keep unrefrigerated? refrigerated? frozen?


 Wade Reeser