Dates, identity and daily life (Case study: Shaldan village 1921 -1978)

Livelihood, nutrition, and the way collect food in past by people, is part of the study of social history.By researching on these topics, we can get acquainted with food, how it is prepared, produced, stored and consumed in the past. In this article, the role of dates in the daily life of the people of Shaldan village in the south of Fars province,during the years 1921to1978 has been discussed. Dates in this village were prepared in different ways and along with bread, they were the main food of the people of Shaldan. In addition,dates were used medicinally, also it was a good substitute for sugar, from it various products and foods were prepared, some of which are still interest. This research has been done by descriptive-analytical method and seeks to answer this question: what is the role of dates as one of the components of material culture in shaping, identifying and continuing the daily life of the people of Shaldan village between 1300and1357AD?Since there is not much information in the historical sources about the history of this village and the surrounding places,the main reliance of this study was on oral history through interviews with a number of local architects and documents of village Hosseiniyah. The results show that dates as a material element and one of the important components of material culture and religious culture of Shaldan people,has played an irreplaceable role in shaping and regulating social relations in the material and spiritual world and consequently in their daily lives.