Look at your lunchbox. You probably see a spoon and maybe a fork sitting neatly beside your meal. But did you know that for most of human history, people ate without either of them? The story of forks and spoons is full of surprises—and a few weird twists.The spoon came first. Even in prehistoric times, early humans used shells or carved wood to scoop food.
Ancient Egyptians had spoons made of ivory and stone, often with decorated handles. In Europe, spoons became common by the Middle Ages, and people even carried their own spoons around, tucked into their belts.
The fork, however, had a much harder time being accepted. It first appeared in the Middle East, where people used two-pronged tools to eat sticky foods like noodles. But when forks reached Europe around the 11th century, people weren’t impressed.
In fact, many thought they were unholy—claiming that using a “devil’s tool” to poke food was unnatural when God gave humans fingers. For centuries, forks were seen as fancy and unnecessary.
Things finally changed in the 1500s when Catherine de’ Medici, an Italian princess, married into the French royal family and brought her elegant fork habits with her. Over time, the fork began to catch on in France, then across Europe. By the 18th century, it became a common sight at the dinner table.Today, forks and spoons are so ordinary we barely notice them. But behind every bite of pasta or scoop of curry lies a long journey—from ancient tools to modern table manners.